sunscreen

How to Apply Sunscreen?

April 3, 2013 by Dr.Deepak Leave a Comment

Everyone knows how to apply sunscreen, but have you ever imagine if you’re using it in a right way? Is your sunscreen giving you adequate protection? Although many of you might find it simple and boring, let’s begin it anyway.

Choose a Sunscreen
Yes, first step is to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that can protect both UVA and UVB rays. It is wise to choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above. Look for sunscreen with active ingredients containing physical blocker like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and chemical blockers like avobenzone

Shake well before use
Always remember to shake the bottle well before you use, just to make sure that all the particles are mixed up evenly in the container.

Try before you use
You may try small portion of your sunscreen around your wrist to make sure you are not allergic to it.

Apply 30 minutes before sun
Apply your sunscreen at-least 20-30 minutes before going out into the sun (or as directed by the manufacturer). This will give enough time for the ingredients to attach to the skin and shield your skin from harmful rays. Apply it in adequate amount covering all your exposed parts. Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen, don’t be greedy in applying sunscreen, more won’t harm. Do not forget to apply on lips, ears, back of the neck, hands and feet. To get adequate protection you should apply at least an ounce of sunscreen.

Repeat every 2 hours
Repeat sunscreen every 2 hours, some experts says to reapply every 30 minutes to make sure you’ll not miss any places, resulting in total protection. Reapply sunscreen immediately after swimming, toweling off, or sweating heavily.

Watch out for expiration
Most sunscreens that may or may not be labeled with expiration date have around 3 year’s shelf life. Sunscreens that expire before 3 years are usually labeled with expiration date. After its expiry date sunscreen starts to degrade and separate and is less effective. You may notice crystals or clump separated with water after your sunscreen expires.

How Can I Maximize My Sun Protection?

Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen. Reapplication is as important as first application
Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds
Look for broad-spectrum and higher SPF
Try to minimize excessive sun exposure during mid-day (10am to 3 pm).
Always wear protective clothing, hat and sun glasses during the day.
Most of the sunscreens are not water proof as they claims, so reapply sunscreen after activities like swimming and sweating.
Insect repellents can reduce a sunscreen’s SPF by up to one-third. If you are using a sunscreen and insect repellent together, use a higher SPF and reapply more often.

Articles you might be interested in

Home Remedies For Sunburn
How To Stop Peeling From Sunburn
Does Sunscreen Expire?
What to do for Sunburn
Find the Sunscreen that Perfectly Match your Lifestyle
SPF and PA+++ Rating in Sunscreen: What does it Indicate?

Find the Sunscreen that Perfectly Match your Lifestyle

March 29, 2013 by Dr.Deepak Leave a Comment

Are you confused with all the sunscreen emerging on the market like a mushroom? All those detail about the ingredients used, water resistant, sun protection factor and all those stuffs, confused about what really look for in the sunscreen. The answer is simple and we have it.

Many day to day moisturizers and after-shave lotions have sunscreen in them (around spf-15+), which might be sufficient for indoor activities or here and there for few minutes in the sun. However, if you are looking for outdoor activities you may need stronger broad-spectrum sunscreen with higher SPF with added “water-resistant” or “very water resistant” according to your need. Most of the sunscreen available today in the market combines several physical and chemical blockers to give better broad-spectrum protection.

Look for highly effective ingredients

Although there are several ingredients in the sunscreen, always look for “active ingredients”. Above all highly effective ingredients include physical blocker like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and chemical blockers like avobenzone. Look for the sunscreen that contains above ingredients as active ingredients.

Go for Broad-Spectrum

Most of the sunscreens that protect both UVA and UVB are labeled as broad-spectrum sunscreen. Always choose the sunscreen that is labeled as broad-spectrum. May also be labeled as total protection or complete protection.

Go for Higher SPF

When you buy any sunscreen always buy sunscreen with at-least SPF of 30+, the more the better. Although some people may not agree on this fact, but since most individuals don’t apply adequate amount of sunscreen as tested in the lab for specific SPF, they can only get half of the protection. It’s a fact that if the sunscreen with SPF 30 can protect you 96% than SPF 45 can protect you 97%, just little difference, but this difference in long run can make a major impact on your skin.

Watch out for UVA protection PA+++ Rating

Currently many of the sunscreen uses Japanese rating standard which are marked with PA and plus sign, PA+. PA simply means Protection Grade of UVA rays. Protective grade of sunscreen is often leveled as PA+, PA++, PA+++ with the more plus sign the more protection from UVA rays. This article will detail you more on UVA and PA+ grading system.

SPF and PA+++ Rating in Sunscreen: What does it Indicate?

Check for expiration date

Although a bottle of sunscreen usually don’t last more than a year if used properly, it is very important to check for expiration date before you purchase any sunscreen. Most sunscreens that may or may not be labeled with expiration date have around 3 year’s shelf life. Sunscreens that expire before 3 years are usually labeled with expiration date. See more for details

Does Sunscreen Expire?

To insure that you get full SPF of your sunscreen, it is very important to apply a thick layer of sunscreen to any areas that are exposed to sun. Sunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin. Most of the people ingnore the reapplication part, but this is very important, so don’t forget to reapply the same amount every two hours. You must also reapply immediately after swimming, toweling off, or excessive sweating so you get total protection.

Here are few tips related to sunburn

What to do for Sunburn
Home Remedies For Sunburn
How To Stop Peeling From Sunburn

Final words:
Try to avoid the sun during peak hours between 11 am to 4 pm and always wear protective clothing like hats, sunglasses and long sleeves if possible when you are out in the sun.

Does Sunscreen Expire?

June 25, 2012 by Dr.Deepak Leave a Comment

There are many commercially available sunscreen and other new cosmetic products containing sunscreens that are being continuously improved and developed to last longer. However, the question still arises, does sunscreen expire? Although a bottle of sunscreen usually don’t last more than a year if used properly, it is very important to check for expiration date before you purchase any sunscreen.

Most sunscreens that may or may not be labeled with expiration date have around 3 year’s shelf life. Sunscreens that expire before 3 years are usually labeled with expiration date. After its expiry date sunscreen starts to degrade and separate and is less effective. You may notice crystals or clump separated with water after your sunscreen expires. Other factors beside expiry date, like heat and excessive exposure to light radiation can also degrade the chemical in the sunscreen and as a result it looses its sun protection efficacy. For maximum result and to reduce the chances of degrading always store your sunscreen in cool place.

Experts suggest that organic sunscreen should never be kept for longer period than 18-24 months because unlike chemical sunscreen, they don’t contain synthetic preservatives that helps stabilize the ingredients for longer period. Applying expired sunscreen is not that harmful but it will have no effect on sun protection.

To get the maximum protection from the sun, always use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or more. Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes prior to sun exposure and re-apply after every 2 hours. Although most of the sunscreens available commercially are advertised as water resistant or even sand resistant or rub resistant, you should always re-apply after you are exposed to water.