| It is well known that exposing your skin to UVA and | | | | easily the epidermis, causing sunburns and acting |
| UVB radiations would finally damage your skin in | | | | indirectly over the cellular constituents. To be sure |
| different ways: erythema, pigmentation, premature | | | | you are protected against both UVA and UVB, look |
| aging, cancer,etc. It is also well known exposing our | | | | for a product labeled "Broad-spectrum protection". |
| skin and body to the sun is essential in the bones | | | | - If you are allergic to various compounds of |
| structure and the synthesis of Vitamin D. Moreover, | | | | sunscreens: Look for PABA-free (para-aminobenzoic |
| recently scientists discovered sun exposure is an | | | | acid) label if you are allergic to it, most sunscreens |
| anti-depressive factor. So what should we do? | | | | use it. Also, if your skin is allergic, look for |
| Probably best option is to lay down in the sun but | | | | non-chemical sun blocks that contains talc, zinc oxide |
| very carefully, using sun screens as much as we can | | | | or titanium dioxide. |
| in order to keep our skin and body away from sun | | | | - To choose the right SPF (sun protection factor) |
| radiations. | | | | SPF measures the time a sunscreen protects against |
| Even if nowadays we have so many products | | | | skin burning compared to the time the skin burns |
| available, especially developed (like the manufacturers | | | | without protection. So, if your skin is burned without |
| say) to protect the skin from sun damage, are these | | | | protection in about 15 minutes and you intend to |
| products really effective? And, if Yes, do we have | | | | stay in the sun for about 5 hours (300 minutes), you |
| the knowledge to choose the right one? | | | | must choose a SPF=300/15=20. Nevertheless, it is |
| At any corner store we can find full range of | | | | reccommended that a sunscreen to have at least |
| sun-related products, but what shall we choose? | | | | SPF 15. |
| Usually, beside trying to match an ideal SPF, most of | | | | - Waterproof or Water-resistant? Waterproof means |
| us are totally uninformed about what a sun screen | | | | that, using such a product, you are protected for |
| must contains. | | | | about 80-90 minutes, even while swimming. |
| - Your skin type: Beside choosing the right SPF, you | | | | Water-resistant products will protect you from sun |
| must look for Oil-Free label if you have acne-prone | | | | rays only 40 minutes while swimming and almost the |
| skin. | | | | same time not swimming. |
| - UVA and UVB? Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of | | | | - Gel, cream or lotion? This is not important once you |
| sun radiations and, when reaching the earth's surface | | | | choose the right product, it is only a personal |
| is made up of two types of rays: Ultraviolet A (UVA) | | | | preference. |
| and Ultraviolet B (UVB). Differences between UVA | | | | Anyway, keep in account that dermatologists advice |
| and UVB are, on one hand, that UVB radiations have | | | | to not expose to the sun between 11.00 and 16.00, |
| more energy then UVA and so are directly absorbed | | | | when the sun radiations are more powerful and can |
| by cellular constituents (nucleic acids, proteins etc.) | | | | seriously damage the skin and eyes. |
| and, on the other hand, UVA radiations penetrate | | | | |