Sunscreen-Get The Most From Yours
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When does an SPF 30 become an SPF 10?
When it isn’t applied properly!
When buying sunscreen the first thing we look for is the SPF level. Most of us use sunscreen thinking we’ll get the full benefit of the SPF level we have chosen. However, that is only true if it’s used properly.
Did you know you need to give the sunscreen at least 15 minutes to soak into your skin before it becomes fully effective? If you don’t give it that time, you don’t get the full effect of the sunscreen. You can sweat it off or wash it off in the water before it has a chance to soak in. Putting on sunscreen indoors or in the shade where you won’t wash it off or sweat it off, gives it a better chance to work.
So who should wear sunscreen?
Anyone who works outdoors: construction workers, farmers, nature enthusiasts, beach staff, and anyone who spends time outdoors regularly, tanning at the beach or gardening in the yard. The list is endless. It doesn’t matter if your skin is light or dark, everyone benefits from sunscreen. And always use sunscreen on children. See the Cancer Care Guidelines on sunscreen for children and adults.
Is sunscreen a summer thing?
Sun rays can reflect off snow and burn exposed skin, like when skiing, snowboarding, on hikes or on cloudy, warmer days when more of our skin is exposed.
What is SPF?
* from About.com
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number is determined experimentally indoors by exposing human subjects to a light spectrum meant to mimic noontime sun. Some subjects wear sunscreen and others do not. The amount of light that induces redness in sunscreen-protected skin, divided by the amount of light that induces redness in unprotected skin is the SPF. It is mainly a measure of UVB protection and ranges from 1 to 45 or above.
A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. Put another way, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer.
The “protectiveness” of clothing can also be measured by SPF. The following are SPF’s of various types of clothing:
- Nylon Stockings – SPF 2
- Hats – SPF 3-6
- Summer-weight clothing – SPF 6.5
- Sun-protective clothing – up to SPF 30
To see the online brochure on sunscreen use put out by The Cancer Care Foundation of Manitoba, follow the link below.
www.cancercare.mb.ca/resource/File/Foundation/awareness_CoverUp.pdf
Or to receive one, they may be contacted at:
Phone: 204-787-4143
Toll-free: 1-877-407-2223
This is general information from The Safety Factor. It is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.
