Benefits of sunscreen to keep your skin healthy this summer

Summer holidays are here and the sunny, warm weather is in full swing. We all know sunlight is very essential for our body & it helps important to bodily functions, including producing vitamin D and maintaining your circadian rhythm and mood. Yet going out in this chronic heat and facing too sun exposure can also be harmful to the skin like oily skin & dry skin as the Sun emits harmful UV (Ultraviolet radiation), which could cause damages like sunburns, signs of early aging and Skin cancer in extreme stages.

Even with all of these risks, many people still head out in the sun, and travel on routine basis to work wearing nothing more than just scarves, handkerchiefs, or glares, thinking that it will protect them in the scorching heat; however that doesn’t prevent them from getting tanned.

So what can you do to protect yourself from these harmful rays and also from getting sun tanned?

There are many types of sunscreens available. Sunscreens lotions are also known as sun-block, sun cream or suntan lotion is available in the form of lotion, spray, gel or foam. Sunscreen should be contains several important ingredients which helps to prevent our body/skin from sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The sun emits two types of harmful ultraviolet radiation, (UVA and UVB), which causes damage to the skin.

It’s a open secret that good sunscreen containing essential ingredients that helps to maintain skin for long lasting year. Sunscreen is not a one-size-fits-all, and there are so many kinds of sunscreen out there because different people may have different sunscreen needs. Few people may just need it for everyday wear, while others are looking for water-resistant or sweat-proof protection. Your skin type may also help to determine the best option. The trick is to avoid overexposure.

UVA Rays – A simple trick to understand ‘A’ means aging, wrinkles and tanning. The most misunderstood part of sunscreen is UVA. It is around every day; it can penetrate through window glass also. Like UVB, it’s also related to an increased risk of skin cancer, but unlike UVB, it’s not filtered by the ozone at all. UVA doesn’t cause sunburn, but it really leads to darkening and aging, because it penetrates deeper into the skin and has more influence in the collagen.

To check whether your sunscreen offers UVA coverage, if not there is a way to find it: the words “BROAD SPECTRUM”. Without the words “broad spectrum” your sunscreen likely doesn’t offer coverage from UVA.

UVB Rays – Again a simple trick to understand ‘B’ means blemishes, sunspots, sunburns & skin cancer. People think that SPF equals everything. The sun protection factor measures a sunscreen’s ability to filter UVB rays, which are related to sunburn and skin cancer. But SPF only measures UVB rays; it doesn’t tell you anything about protection from UVA. UVB rays can burn and damage your skin year-round hence it is necessary to apply sunscreen year long.

Ultravoilet radiation

What is SPF Sunscreen?

SPF , or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the kind of radiation that causes sunburn, damages skin, and can contribute to skin cancer.

If your skin normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes (a factor of 15 times longer). Estimate is depends on skin type, intensity of sunlight and amount of sunscreen used. SPF is actually a measure of protection from amount of UVB exposure and it is not meant to help you determine duration of exposure. SPF 15 filters about 93% of UV-B rays; SPF 30 filters about 97% of UV-B rays.

SPF Sunscreen

What is PA+++

The PA rating system was adapted from the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) method. This test uses UVA radiation to cause a persistent darkening—tanning—of the skin. PA+ means your sunscreen or cosmetic provides some protection against UVA rays, PA++ provides moderate protection, and PA+++ offers the best protection of the three.

What is Broad Spectrum?

If the product you’re using offers both UVA and UVB protection, it will be labelled as Broad Spectrum which gives protection from aging, wrinkles, sun burns, sun spots, tanning, pigmentation and skin cancer. So it is always advisable to use the product which has SPF, PA+++ and Broad Spectrum.

Broad Spectrum

Here are some tips for Sun Protection:

You should apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and then wait for 10 to 20 minutes before getting dressed. We recommend re-application of sunscreen at least every two hours, or after every water exposure or sweating even if they are labeled water-resistant.
In addition to wearing sunscreen, always wear appropriate protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved clothing, and pants when possible. Seek shade, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, and avoid tanning beds. Remember to stay hydrated, and sunscreen up!
Tips for Sun Protection
Take note of the labels and ratings on your products. Shop for sunscreens and skin care offerings that are labeled with SPF and PA+++ ratings, and look for the “Broad Spectrum” label to ensure you’re getting the best protection possible.
Many sunscreens contain hazardous chemicals. One of the most common ones was the hormone disruptor oxybenzone, linked to endocrine imbalances and skin damage. So avoid avabenzone, oxybenzone, alcohol, parabens.
Use natural or mineral-based (titanium-based and zinc-based) sunscreens that reflect the sun’s rays away from your skin, as opposed to chemical sunscreens that absorb the sun’s rays. Many natural sunscreens protect skin just as well as conventional sunscreens without harsh chemicals.
Sprays don’t provide adequate coverage and inhalation poses a serious risk. Opt for lotions instead.
Test spot yourself and your kids for allergens on the inside of the wrist the day before sun exposure.
Be aware of high SPF claiming products over 50+ SPF. They give you a false sense of security.

Who should use sunscreens?

Anyone over the age of six months should use a sunscreen daily. Even those who work inside offices are exposed to ultraviolet radiation for brief periods throughout the day, especially if they work near windows, which generally filter out UVB but not UVA rays.

Children under the age of six months should not be exposed to the sun, since their skin is highly sensitive to the chemical ingredients in sunscreen as well as to the sun’s rays. Shade and protective clothing are the best ways to protect infants from the sun.

UV Rays cause 90% of premature skin aging

Antioxidant-rich foods and certain supplements help in Boosting your internal Sunscreen:

Omega-3s (from diet and from supplements like krill oil)

Resveratrol (blueberries and red grapes)

Astaxanthin (salmon and fish oil)

Catechins (coffee, chocolate, green and white tea)

Vitamin E (supplement this one)

Beta-carotene (carrots and red bell peppers)

We at SSCPL Herbals provide SPF 30, PA +++ and Broad Spectrum Sunscreen lotion which is matte finish, light weight and water proof. Also it is free from Avabenzone, Oxybenzone & parabens.

SSCPL Herbals have developed these sunscreens as per customer needs & requirements hence you will get variety in Sunscreen to meet your skin type. You could purchase them on the link given below:

https://www.sscplherbals.com/product-category/sun-care/sunscreen-lotion/