Growing up, many of us thought that the sun was healthy, and that nothing looked better than a deep dark tan. But all those hours spent under the sun take their toll. The result of too much sun is premature aging, and a higher risk of skin cancer.
You can actually cause damage to your skin in as little as 15 minutes. The reason your skin tans is because it is producing additional pigment or coloring to protect itself against the damage being caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays. Those rays are present even when it's cloudy.
Short of spending all your time indoors, what can you do to protect yourself from the damage caused by the sun's UV rays? That's where sun protection comes in.
Sunscreens and sunblocks
Sunscreens are rated by their SPF (sun protective factor). The American Academy of Dermatology recommends looking for an SPF of at least 15. Many sunscreens - even if they have the same SPF numbers - have different ingredients or different combinations of the same ingredients. Sunscreen ingredients that screen out UVA rays include oxybenzone and avobenzone or Parsol 1789. Ingredients that screen out UVB rays include cinnamates and salicylates.
In addition to sunscreens, there are also physical blockers such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These products don't interact with the skin the way sunscreens do. They sit on the skin and block the sun. In the past, you could tell when someone used zinc oxide because it was a thick white smear. But now there are special micronized formulas that blend in much better. Your doctor can advise you about what's best for your skin.
Sun protective clothing
If you don't want to slather your skin with creams or lotions, you may want to look into sun protective clothing. Sun protective clothing is made with fabric that screens out the sun due to its tight weave and/or UV absorbers that are a part of the fabric. You may wonder why you just can't wear any old tee shirt, but in fact, lightweight summer clothing lets many of the sun's rays right through.
Sun protective shirts should have long sleeves, and may also contain vents under the arms for cooling. Some products also contain insect repellent for even more outdoor protection.
A sun protective hat should be made of the same tight fabric as other sun-protective clothing. It should cover the ears. It should have a brim that gives your nose shade, and ideally, should have a drape in the back to protect your neck.
Sun protective swimwear features long sleeves and higher necks to protect your skin from the sun while you're in the water. You can buy an entire swimsuit. You can also buy a special sun protective water shirt.
Sun protective gloves and sun sleeves can also be helpful. Sun sleeves can be a good solution for people who do a lot of driving and want to keep their driver side arm protected.
The bottom line is that there's a lot of choice for sun protection out there. It's especially important for children, because much of our sun exposure happens when we are young.
Ed Nichols is a health and medical writer. For more information on sun protection and other skin care issues, please visit http://www.healthyu-skin.org
For sunscreen info, please see http://www.healthyu-skin.org/sun_protection_sunblock.htm
Source: www.articlealley.com