With Spring arrived and Summer hot on its heels, it is crucial that you make an educated decision and choose a sunscreen that ensures the protection and integrity of your skin, and that of your family, from our glorious yet harsh Aussie sun.
Not all sunscreens are created equal.
Our mission here today is to help you understand what an SPF is & how sunscreen really works.
For decades, we’ve been told SPF is the ultimate UV protection from the sun.
This has given most Aussies the false perception that this would allow them to stay in the sun all day. This is not the case.
To understand an SPF (sun protection factor) you first need to know how an SPF is calculated, it’s all in the math.
Minutes to burn without sunscreen x SPF number = maximum sun exposure time.
For example, if you burn without sunscreen in 10 mins, then you apply an SPF 30, you theoretically can stay in the sun for 30 x 10 mins, that’s 300 minutes or five hours.
But here is where many get it so wrong: Once your burn time for the day is up, you cannot reapply your SPF & start again. Just like a roast chook! Once it’s cooked, it’s cooked. Once your burn time has expired, you are cooked & need to go inside, out of the sun for the next 24 hours or more.
Here’s the key to SPF:
1. Your sunscreen should be Broad Spectrum (protecting against UVA and UVB rays)
2. Sunscreen must be applied at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
3. Babies should not be in the sun without clothing. Their natural burn time is fast, and toxic chemicals should never be applied to their skin as a means of sun protection.
4. Zinc Oxide &/or Titanium Dioxide physically block & deflect UV rays.
5. Always remember the skin is the largest organ of the body. Treat it with care & respect.
6. More expensive is not necessarily more effective or safe but cheap is also likely to have nasty ingredients.
Bottom Line is, it’s important to be educated & responsible about sun exposure. The safest option, this summer, is to avoid full sun between 10am & 4pm, cover up with a long-sleeved shirt, wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and seek shade.
Until next month.
The Skin Fit Coach. x
PS: you can find me on Facebook at :
https://www.facebook.com/TheREALSkinFitCoach
Written by Michelle-Lee Bailey
November 2024