How Often Should You Apply Sunscreen?

There are a number of things that you can get from the sun. Aside from a great golden glow, the sun also gives you healthy doses of Vitamin D. However, too much sun exposure can also do a lot of harm to your skin. Aside from opening yourself up to sunburn, it can also cause long-term problems such as premature aging and skin cancer. This is why the need to wear sunscreen all the time should be a top priority, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

The Importance of Sunscreen

I’m sure you know about the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays that the sun emits. These rays promote the growth and spreading of free radicals, unstable molecules that cause your body cells to become unhealthy. Free radicals have been seen as culprits to premature aging and cancer, an alarming fact that needs to be addressed by stopping the problem from its source. Sunscreen has the ability to shield your skin from these risks.

What Kind of Sunscreen Should You Use?

Ultraviolet rays are sorted into two types: UVA and UVB. UVB causes sunburn, but it’s UVA that you would really have to worry about. It penetrates deep into your skin, causing your skin to lose all its moisture and allowing your skin to wrinkle up and sag. This also causes the dreaded disease, skin cancer. This is why shopping for sunscreen involves having to check what it guards you from. For ultimate protection against both UVA and UVB rays, always check the Sun Protection Factor, more commonly known as SPF. Make sure that you get sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30 to help block over 95% of the sun’s UV rays. Look for the label that says “broad spectrum” to ensure that it has the ability to block both UVA and UVB rays.

How Often Should You Apply Sunscreen?

Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before direct sun exposure to allow your skin to absorb it more effectively. Make sure you use at least 1 oz with every application as using less will make it useless. Reapply every 2 hrs to make sure to keep its effects continuous. Try to apply more often if you sweat a lot, or if you have been swimming.