Sunscreen
Is it sunscreen or tanning lotion?
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Sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of the sunscreen – the higher the SPF, the more protection it offers. The SPF is the amount of UV radiation required to cause sunburn on skin with it on, relative to the amount required without it. So, wearing a lotion with a SPF 50 means your skin won’t burn until it’s been exposed to 50 times the amount of solar energy that would normally cause it to burn.
It’s a firewall from the sun. Most people don’t use enough to fully protect themselves. It’s important to use a sunscreen that protects against all of the sun’s harmful rays. Most guard against UVB rays, the shorter rays that cause sunburn. Some now also guard against the longer, cancer-causing UVA rays. You should look for a sunscreen with a high SPF level plus UVA protection, and be sure to reapply it every one to two hours and especially after a swim.
Sunscreen absorbs, reflects or scatters UV light. It provides either physical or chemical protection from UV light. As a general rule of thumb, everyone should wear at least SPF 15 on a daily basis, regardless of skin type. Contrary to popular belief, darker skinned people are not immune to sun damage. The sun’s powerful rays penetrate all skin types, causing damage to skin cells that may eventually lead to skin cancer. The myth that only paler people need to use protection from the sun may stem from the fact that melanoma and other skin cancers are more common among racial and ethnic groups with fair skin.
Did you realize that on a cloudy day 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds? Skiers you need to beware, ultraviolet radiation increases 4 percent for every 1,000-foot increase in altitude. And most people don’t realize you should apply sunscreen to your dry skin 30 minutes before going outdoors. Pay particular attention to your face, ears, hands and arms. It’s essential for quality skin care.
We now know these products are deadly to corals. All you swimmers’ and divers listen up, sunscreen is killing off many coral with amazing speed. This is strangely believable. The death of coral, the lungs of the ocean, is one of the big environmental tragedies of this age. And up to now, maybe something of a puzzle. The water around coral exposed to sunscreen has more than 15 times as many viruses as water around non-exposed coral. The environmental problem is very serious. Coral reefs are an important part of the oceans, providing an excellent habitat for many forms of life.
It’s a breakthrough in skin protection, experts say that people should continue to follow standard advice to avoid the sun and protect their skin. None of these products gives 100% protection from the sun. You should always practice additional sun safe behaviors such as wearing protective clothing and seeking shade when possible.
Sunscreen is great for any outdoor activity. It allows you not only to protect yourself, but to protect your family and friends from excessive and harmful sun exposure.
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