Learn how to choose sunscreen without making mistakes

We are in the year 2019 and we believe that everyone already knows that using sunscreen is a fundamental health issue, right? Protects the skin even from the possibility of cancer. But at the time of purchase, to be very accurate, it is important to know the characteristics of the product so as not to make a mistake when picking it up from the shelf.

O awesome.club gathered some information and tips that will help you choose the most suitable sunscreen for you as well as for your family. Check it out and enjoy the summer!

Most people know that solar radiation is harmful to the skin. What maybe few people know is that it has cumulative action. The more sunscreen you use, the less you let your skin be “poisoned” by the sun’s rays. Even on cloudy days, don’t forget to pass it before leaving home. It’s not just on the beach or at the pool, it’s on work days and before going to college, for example.

The simplest part is the acronym: SPF stands for sun protection factor. The number that follows identifies how long your skin is protected using that protector. For example: if the skin starts to feel the effects of the sun after three minutes of exposure, that means that an SPF 30 will keep this skin safe for 90 minutes. So, it is important to pay attention: an SPF 60 doesn’t offer twice as much protection as a 30. It only protects you from the sun twice more time.

The difference between the two rays that come from the sun is in the color they leave on the skin. When you turn red (the so-called “shrimp color”) it is because the skin has been hit by UVB, which only catches the most superficial part. When it burns, it is a sign that the action was the UVA rays, which reach the deeper layers of the skin (and also help to cause blemishes and wrinkles). One thing to watch out for: it doesn’t block out completely with sunscreen.

The lighter the person, the less they have melanin, the pigment responsible for giving color to the skin. Therefore, people with very fair skin should use sunscreens with a higher SPF, because they will feel the effects of sun exposure more quickly and will be safer for longer.

all people (yes we said all) should use sunscreen. Even people with black skin are subject to the harmful effects of solar radiation. The difference is that they take longer to feel the effects of radiation and can use lower SPF. The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) determines that all sunscreen for sale in Brazil must have at least SPF 6.

As we said above, the SPF works as a calculation from the time your skin begins to feel the effects of the sun. So, if you are going to expose yourself in a very sunny time (remember that dermatologists do not recommend exposure from 10 am to 4 pm) or in places with too much sun — the summer in Rio or Bahia, for example — always use a Higher SPF, because your skin will start to feel the effects faster.

Carefully read the sunscreen packaging. If it is not recommended for the face, avoid using it in the region, as it can cause the appearance of pimples, among other inconveniences. The ideal is to use a specific sunscreen for the face and another for the body. It’s also good to use one that is recommended for the lips, usually in stick form.

When applying sunscreen, pay attention to how well it seems to adhere to the skin. The greater the grip, the greater the protection it will offer. The gel-cream options tend to be the most adherent, according to dermatologists.

Tell us: do you always wear sunscreen? With what FPS? Leave your comment!