Whether you're a beachgoer or an outdoor worker, you need to be careful to protect your skin. Over time, sun damage can lead to premature wrinkles, dark spots, and even skin cancer. To protect your skin, choose the right sunscreen for you!
Think about how quickly you get sunburned on a sunny day. Multiplying that number by the sun protection factor (SPF) (in minutes) of the sunscreen you're considering will tell you the maximum amount of time the sunscreen will protect you. For example, if your skin turns red after 10 minutes in the sun, then an SPF 15 sunscreen should keep you out of the sun for 150 minutes (2.5 hours). The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
While it is true that sunscreens with higher SPFs offer more protection, the difference in the level of protection with SPFs higher than 50 is relatively small. Sunscreens also do not completely protect you from potentially harmful UVA radiation, no matter how high the SPF. Remember, wearing a high SPF sunscreen does not mean you should avoid other protective measures, such as staying in the shade, minimizing time in the sun, and wearing protective clothing.
Mineral sunscreens may not contain the irritants that many chemical sunscreens contain.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the most common active ingredients in mineral sunscreens.
Read the packaging carefully.
Look for oil-free formulas.
Look for words like "cream", "lotion" or even "ointment" on the front of the package. Moisturizing sunscreens are often formulated as these skin care products. Check for moisturizing ingredients, such as oils and lanolin.
