Besides my full time work as an Occupational Safety and Health Advisor and a competitive cyclist, which both requires me to spend a reasonable number of hours under the sun, I have been asked to write something about sunscreen.
If you have been kept abreast with Celebrity / Hollywood news or paparazzi, you may have noticed that there have been numerous publications and articles about celebrities battling skin cancer. Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Melanie Griffith, Brooke Shields and many others have graciously stepped up to share their stories.
So let’s begin, pay attention now;
What You Need to Know About Sunscreen
What You Need to Know About Sunscreen
What Are Sunscreens?
Sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB.
What Are UVA and UVB?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. It has wavelengths shorter than visible light, making it invisible to the naked eye.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) is the longer wave UV ray that causes lasting skin damage, skin aging, and can cause skin cancer.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the shorter wave UV ray that causes sunburns, skin damage, and can cause skin cancer.
Take note that both UVA and UVB can cause skin cancer.
Sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB.
What Are UVA and UVB?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. It has wavelengths shorter than visible light, making it invisible to the naked eye.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) is the longer wave UV ray that causes lasting skin damage, skin aging, and can cause skin cancer.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the shorter wave UV ray that causes sunburns, skin damage, and can cause skin cancer.
Take note that both UVA and UVB can cause skin cancer.
What Is SPF?
SPF – or Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin.
Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB.
SPF – or Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin.
Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB.
Another way to look at it is in terms of percentages: SPF 15
filters out approximately 93 % of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 keeps out 97 %
and SPF 50 keeps out 98 %. They may seem like negligible differences, but if
you are light-sensitive, or have a history of skin cancer, those extra
percentages will make a difference. And as you can see, no sunscreen can block
all UV rays.
So what about sunscreens with a rating of more than SPF 50?
Are they able to give a filtration efficiency of 100 %?
On the contrary, anything higher than SPF 50 does not mean
that you will 100% filtration of UVB rays.
For outdoor activities, I highly recommend a sunscreen of SPF 50 and has water resistant capabilities.
What is PA?
PA stands for protection grade of UVA (UVA light is caused by aging factors) system and is the Japanese measurement of sun protection, which is based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) reaction reading at 2-4 hours of sun exposure. PA is a protective level of strength to mark the three PA+, PA++ and PA+++.
PA+ provides some UVA protection with a factor of PPD 2-4. It protects sensitive skin against low to medium UV radiation.
PA++ provides moderate UVA protection with a factor of PPD 4-8. It offers better protection from UVA rays and can be used by people with normal skin exposed to medium UV radiation.
PA+++ provides good UVA protection with a factor of PPD > 8. It is the strongest grade of UVA protection now available. It is designed for normal skin under very strong or direct UV radiation.
For outdoor activities, I highly recommend a sunscreen of SPF 50 and has water resistant capabilities.
What is PA?
PA stands for protection grade of UVA (UVA light is caused by aging factors) system and is the Japanese measurement of sun protection, which is based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) reaction reading at 2-4 hours of sun exposure. PA is a protective level of strength to mark the three PA+, PA++ and PA+++.
PA+ provides some UVA protection with a factor of PPD 2-4. It protects sensitive skin against low to medium UV radiation.
PA++ provides moderate UVA protection with a factor of PPD 4-8. It offers better protection from UVA rays and can be used by people with normal skin exposed to medium UV radiation.
PA+++ provides good UVA protection with a factor of PPD > 8. It is the strongest grade of UVA protection now available. It is designed for normal skin under very strong or direct UV radiation.
What Does Broad-Spectrum Mean?
Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Application of spray sunscreen
Recommended that this be done in a well-ventilated room, or outdoors. Keep your eyes and mouth closed when spraying sunscreen.
When applying sunscreen to the face, it’s best to spray the sunscreen (if spray type) on your hand and then apply to your face by hand. Or you will end up like him…
We were late for a race (partially cos we woke up late) and due to the fact that he had sunscreen in his eyes (oh behave)… …
"You have to be careful if you're pale-skinned and
spend any time in the sun," Ewan McGregor said.Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Application of spray sunscreen
Recommended that this be done in a well-ventilated room, or outdoors. Keep your eyes and mouth closed when spraying sunscreen.
When applying sunscreen to the face, it’s best to spray the sunscreen (if spray type) on your hand and then apply to your face by hand. Or you will end up like him…
We were late for a race (partially cos we woke up late) and due to the fact that he had sunscreen in his eyes (oh behave)… …
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