Sunscreen: you’ve inadvertently rubbed it into your eyes, spilled it all over the backseat of your mom’s new car and slathered it on over your sandy arms (ouch!). This summer, you’ve decided that sunblock ultimately kills your tanning vibe, so you innocently “forget” to pack it for your daytrip to the beach. It’s not a huge deal, you think as you zip up your bag; I have a base tan–it’s not even supposed to be that sunny today!
While this common misconception might be the most convenient way to spend a day in the sun, it’s not necessarily the safest. Forgetting to apply sunscreen more than a few times can lead to some serious health and beauty risks, including increased chances of developing skin cancer and wrinkles in early adulthood. But a recent Google search busted a few popular myths about SPF, skin cancer and the secrets to a lifetime of youthful skin. So, bronzed collegiates, I give you HC Bucknell’s Safe Summer Tan-line:
Myth #1: SPF 100+ protects your skin more than SPF 30.
This myth is true, but before explaining why, it’s important to understand what SPF actually does.
SPF is a rating used by doctors to measure the amount of time it would take you to burn without sunscreen compared to if you were wearing sunscreen. Most sunscreens block only UVB rays, which cause sunburns, and not UVA rays, which cause skin damage. However, a few brands of sunblock that prevent UVA rays, such as Neutrogena, are beginning to be sold in local pharmacies.
While most people assume that SPF 30 protects their skin twice as much as SPF 15, that’s never the case. According to experts, SPF 15 blocks around 94% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 45 blocks up to 98% of these rays. There is no such sunscreen that block 100% of the sun’s harmful rays. That means that even your SPF 100,000+ won’t fully protect you from the sun, but it may protect better against future skin damage.
Myth #2: You only need to apply sunblock once, and then you’re set for the day.
Experts busted this common myth a while ago. Even if you choose to wear UVA/UVB-protecting, waterproof, SPF 900+ super-sun-resistant-block, you should always apply sunscreen before you go out in the sun, and reapply throughout the day. And your amount of activity and sun exposure determines how often you should reapply. If you’re tanning by the beach, reapply every two hours. If you’re swimming, biking or running, reapply every hour. Even waterproof sunscreen rubs off after 40 minutes of activity.
Myth #3: I don’t have to apply sunscreen if it’s cloudy outside.
It is still possible to get sunburned on an overcast summer day! To prevent the sun from ruining that bronzed complexion you’ve worked so hard for, apply sunscreen on your arms, legs and face before going outside. Carry a travel-sized sunscreen or SPF moisturizer in your bag while going on cloudy day shopping excursions!
Myth #4: Sunscreen prevents skin cancer.
Recent groundbreaking studies show that sunscreen does, in fact, prevent skin cancer. The trick to finding the best sun protection is all in the label. While many sunscreens we use protect against UVA or UVB rays, many do not protect against both. It is important to find the sunscreen that best prevents skin damage, so look for these best-rated brands in your local drugstores:
Up & Up Sport SPF 30
No-Ad with Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45
Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 30
So what do the experts have to say about preventing wrinkles?
Surprisingly, there are other ways to avoid aging besides wearing sunscreen. Here are a few tips to follow to keep your skin as healthy and young looking as possible!
Tip #1: Get plenty of sleep. The more sleep you get, the more elastic your skin will be–meaning that it will be less likely to wrinkle.
Tip #2: Moisturize! The longer you spend outside in the sun, the drier your skin becomes. After a day of tanning, exfoliate your body to get rid of dead skin. Invest in a moisturizer that is specifically for dry skin for extra nourishment and wrinkle protection.
Tip #3: Stay out of the tanning booth. This one’s a no-brainer. Tanning beds can lead to pre-mature development of wrinkles, brown spots, and skin cancer. If you’re craving an immediate dose of Vitamin D, take a walk, read a book on your lawn or go shopping outside!
So collegiates, this summer vacation, be careful where, when and how you tan while you’re having fun in the sun. Be proactive about sunblock; you never know, your 40-year-old self might be thanking you someday!
For more information, visit:
http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/high-spf-sunscreens-are-they-better
http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/20110524/9-sunscreens-get-top-ratings-by-consumer-reports
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sunprotection/sunscreen/sunscreens-explained