Why:
Wearing sunscreen is the easiest and cheapest way of preventing sun damage. Ask you’re self: When I am 50 years old and I am seeing major lines and dark sun spots on my face and upper chest will I regret not wearing sunscreen? Advanced corrective measures are exstreamly expensive and can be very painful. Consider using sunscreen daily, even in the winter and overcast days.
What type of sunscreen:
There are many types of sunscreens out on the market and it can be extremely difficult to choose one. First look for a full spectrum sunscreen. Make sure the ingredients include Zinc oxide or titanium oxide. The reason for this is because these ingredients are the most effective in protecting you skin from all the sunrays. Baby sunscreen is a good choose for the body. For the face you’ll want something lighter. My favorite is from MD Formulations. You can also use mineral make-up on the face but don’t forget to apply the body sunscreen to the ears neck and upper chest.
Most sunscreens for sports are often not full spectrum. Even though they say they are. Athletes should do there best to were clothing with sunscreen built in and re-apply sunscreen often. Look for sunscreens that are sweat proof and have Zinc and/or titanium oxide in them.
When to apply and for how long:
The most common mistake that people make when using sunscreens is that the don’t re-apply often enough. All the numbers on the sunscreen bottles mean is how long you can stay out in the sun without burning. SPF 15 in about 1 ½ hours. SPF 30 is about 3 hours. SPF 45 is about 4 ½ hours and 55 is about 5 ½ hours. These times change if you are very fair. If you are fair skinned you can trust SPF 30 for about 2 hours. Also it is important to Re-apply after swimming.
Where to buy:
Can buy sunscreen from anywhere but consider buying your facial sunscreen from somewhere you can take it back if you don’t like. Don’t buy anything you don’t love. If you don’t love it you’ll not use it. Be a label reader. If it doesn’t have zinc or titanium oxide in it, don’t buy it. This is the best why to make sure your getting full protection. An added benefit to wearing zinc of titanium oxide is the moisture in you skin does not evaporate. This is an added protection for people with dry skin.
How to apply:
You should apply first thing in the morning when you get ready for the day. People who feel that moisturizer, sunscreen and make-up is too much on you face, should consider using a tinted sunscreen and forget the moisturizer altogether in the morning. Use a richer moisturizer in the evening. Another option is where a lighter moisturizer and then use mineral make-up. When you apply you sunscreens make sure you apply to you neck, upper chest and the back off your hands. These show the signs of aging first. And also don’t forget to apply to your upper ears, my dermatologist told me the ears is were he takes cancerous mole off the most.
Some final words:
Sun glass and a big hat go a long why to enhance you protection from the sun. Follow these tips and you can look great though life and have lots of fun out side.
Update: After living in Bend Oregon for almost two years I have come to understand that, the higher up in elevation you go the more protection you need. If I remember right the UV rays are 4% stronger with every thousand feet you go up in elevation. For example Bend Oregon is at 3500feet. That means that the sun is 14% stronger in Bend. I also read there is a very high rate of skin cancer in Bend Oregon. So lesson here is if you live in a high elevation you must wear you sun screen.
Some web sites to look at are:
http://www.mdformulations.com/
