All Sunscreens Are Not The Same!

Sunscreen products can be found in a variety of forms including lotions, creams, sprays, oils, gels, pads, and even lip balm.

Each sunscreen contains different levels of protection. SPF is crucial, but it is only a measurement regarding sunburn (UVB) rays.

It is dangerous for your skin to not have UVA protection and many sunscreens do not have ingredients that can provide true full-spectrum (both UVA and UVB) coverage.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and it measures the sunscreen’s ability to absorb or block UVB radiation from the sun.

According to the FDA, a product’s SPF number tells you how long you can stay in the sun before getting burned. The higher the SPF number, the more protection is offered.

UVB radiation is the sun’s burning ray and has an immediate, harmful impact on skin.

UVA rays are the sun’s silent killers. You don’t feel them but they are the primary cause of skin cancer, wrinkles, and a weakened immune system.

Even on a cloudy or hazy day, the sun’s rays are present and impact the skin.  Sitting in the shade or wearing a hat only protects against a portion of the sun’s rays.

Make sure you select a sunscreen that will guard you from the dangers of the sun.

Choose a sunscreen to wear every day under makeup.  Choose another to wear for different activities such as sports, swimming or golfing.

Please visit the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to select sunscreens suitable to your lifestyle, or call 703-893-6168.

Writers:  George Weston, M.D., Robert Sigal, M.D.,  Byron Poindexter, M.D.

© The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery

Popularity: 1% [?]