It’s the year 2020, and each one of us understands the risks caused by sun exposure and UV rays. The immediate line of defense against accelerated sun damage, aging & risk of skin cancer due to UV exposure is the use of sunscreens. Sun protection is crucial for individuals of all ages, be it the children or adults. So, should you wear sunscreen every day is not the question you need to ask yourself. The right question that you should be asking is that, how do you choose the best sunscreen? In this article, we discuss the factors that make up for a perfect sunscreen. Find which type of sunscreens and formulations will be best for your skin type.
• A Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen is the Best Sunscreen
Choose a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum sun protection against UVA & UVB rays both. Since only broad-spectrum sunscreens are effective against skin cancer risk and accelerated aging, therefore, always opt for those.
• Choose the Right SPF
It can be confusing to decide which SPF range is ideal for you, considering the overwhelming range of available sunscreen. The skin complexion and tendency to sun damage is the determining factor for choosing the SPF. However, it is essential to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 for efficacy. SPF 30 and higher are the most suitable sunscreens, according to skin specialists.
• Know the Ingredients of Your Sunscreens
Whether you opt for chemical sunscreens or mineral sunscreens, you must understand which ingredients will suit your skin best and provide you sun protection. Mineral sunscreens include zinc oxide and titanium oxide as an ingredient that acts as a barrier over your skin that does not allow UVA and UVB rays to penetrate your skin. The ingredients in mineral sunscreens act as a physical barrier; however, they also tend to form an ashy layer or a white cast over the skin at times. Whereas chemical sunscreens are lightweight and apply effortlessly on the skin. As the harmful UV rays reflect through your skin the sunscreen effectively reacts with it and convert UV rays to heat. The heat just diffuses off from your body. Chemical sunscreens for their effectiveness should be applied thoroughly at least 20-30 minutes before going out into the sun.
Which One’s Better, Chemical Sunscreen or Mineral Sunscreen?
This depends on individual factors and how you respond to it since both types of sunscreens offer effective protection. Chemical sunscreens are great to use under makeup since they are absorbent and lightweight on the skin. They might not suit everyone and can cause allergic reactions. Whereas, mineral sunscreens offer immediate protection as a physical barrier but can sometimes cause breakouts for acne-prone skin.
• Right Formulation for your Skin Type
So many formulations are afloat in the market suitable to different skin types. Therefore, if you have dry skin, then sunscreen with moisturizing cream formulation will suit you better. For oily and acne-prone skin gel-based, and water-based formulas are effective.
Should you wear sunscreen, it is essential to weigh in all the factors discussed above to make the right choice for prolonged protection against sun exposure and skin cancer. Remember! Healthy skin is beautiful skin.