SPF'S & SUN PROTECTION FACTORS

Most people love going to the beach and getting a tan or just enjoying time in the sun. This is ok if you protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays by wearing Sun Block. Here are some important tips to know that are helpful for you during these times.

The 2 types of UV rays that are important to know about are UVA and UVB rays. SPF sunscreens are designed to absorb UVA and
UVB rays reducing the rate of premature skin aging.
UVB rays can cause sunburns and cancer.
UVA rays can cause premature ageing of the skin such as hyper-pigmentation etc.
Always remember UVB rays are most intense between 11am to 3pm when the sun is at its highest. So, re-apply as often as needed!

Does the best sunscreen have the highest SPF? SPF stands for sun protection factor; it is a measure of how well sunscreen protects against the UVB rays. (UVA protection isn't rated.) Manufacturers calculate the SPF based on how long it takes to cause a sunburn to skin that has been treated with sunscreen as compared to skin with no sunscreen. When applied correctly, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will provide slightly more protection from UVB rays than a sunscreen with an SPF of 15. To see how long your sunscreen will last under perfect conditions, take the number of your SPF and multiply it by 10. This is the length of time in minutes you'll be safe from the sun's rays.
NOTE the SPF 30 product isn't twice as protective as the SPF 15 product.

Sunscreens with SPFs greater than 50 provide only a small increase in UV protection. Rather than looking at a sunscreen's SPF only, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

What does Water-Resistant Sunscreen do? The term water resistant means that the SPF is maintained for up to 40 minutes while swimming or sweating. Very water resistant means the SPF is maintained for 80 minutes. Sunscreen is often not applied thoroughly or often enough. It can be washed off during swimming or sweating. As a result, even the best sunscreen might be less effective than the SPF number suggests.

Sunscreen is available out there for all skin types. We should all be wearing at least SPF 15 during the winter months and SPF 30 in the summer months. It is recommended that you wear protection all day / year-round as this could prevent cancer of the skin, premature aging, and other skin problems.

Being in the sun has it’s benefit too! Although UV light has been identified as hazardous to the skin, it also has some positive effects. Vitamin D which is essential to our health can be received through sunlight!  It also reduces stress, fights off depression, improves your sleep & helps keep the weight off to name just a few.

For a free consultation or to schedule an appointment call us on 945-1188 / 9167274 or email us at appointments@eclipze.ky