Tips to choose the best sunscreen for your skin

Today doctors are becoming increasingly emphasize the need to use sunscreen for the skin. But, do you know how to choose an effective one? We see all the details.

A recent study by the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago found that for many Americans the information on the labels of sunscreens is a mystery.
Only 49% of survey participants knew what the letters "SPF"(stands for sun protection factor) displayed on sunscreen bottles represent.

Most I believed that sunscreens with a high sun protection factor are more effective against sunburn and skin cancer than those with a low rate. The problem is that there are two types of ultraviolet (UV) with different effects on the skin:
 UVA: totally reaches the earth's surface; tan immediately, but the result is short-lived. They have the ability to penetrate through the glass and into the deeper layers of the dermis, which generate free radicals that cause cell changes and cause premature skin aging (wrinkles, age spots, and loss of elasticity) as well as causing cancer.
 UVB: they penetrate less than UVA, but are reflective; 90% is blocked by ozone and oxygen from the atmosphere as they are more energy are more harmful to the biosphere. The most serious damage to the body is burning the tissue.
But both types are powerful risk factors for skin cancer.
And a high SPF does not mean that protects the skin against UVA rays, as Roopal Kundu, associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern, who oversaw the study.

Spread spectrum

So, how can you find a sunscreen that protects against all rays that can damage your skin?
Look for a label "broad spectrum", Kundu said.
According to the guidelines of the current labeling of sunscreen of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only products that protect against UVA and UVB rays can receive the label "broad spectrum".

Most recommended protection index

The higher is the SPF in sunscreen, the longer is the period that you can expose to the sun without burning the skin.
That does not mean, for example, that a sunscreen index 15 is half as effective as the 30.
According to experts of the British Association of Dermatology, as the protection index increases, the added benefit becomes smaller.
Sunscreen lotion indexed with 15 SPF can protect 93% of UVB while the SPF30 protect 97% and SPF50 protect the 98%, but when they reach 100 or above can no longer protect.
In general, dermatologists recommend a sunscreen with SPF30 label.
It is also important to ensure that are resistant to water and sweat which means that the blocker stays on the skin longer when wet.
According to FDA regulations, a "waterproof" sunscreen means it maintains its SPF after 40 minutes in the water while the "very water resistant" can last up to 80 minutes.

• The 10 best sunscreen lotion for your skin.

Besides choosing a sunscreen to protect your skin from two types of harmful rays, a number of other steps you can take to reduce the risk of skin damage as a result of the isolated rays.
Apply 30 minutes before going outdoors for best results. This allows time for the skin to absorb the lotion.
Reapply every two hours or after swimming in the pool or sea.
Limit exposure to the sun, especially at midday when the sun's rays are strongest.
If it is inevitable to be out at noon, it is recommended some shade, like an umbrella or tree.
Cover the body with long sleeves, pants, a hat, and sunglasses whenever possible. But apart from using it at the beach or pool, dermatologists remind us that we must also use it during the winter, as though ultraviolet B (UVB), those responsible for sunburn and skin cancer, are less intense during this time of year, the effects of UVA persist.
Hopefully, you can find the best sunscreen for your skin now. Did you find this article useful? If so, please do share it with your friends through social networks. Thank you.