Here comes the sun(screen)

Hello everyone!

Believe it or not, there are still a lot of misconceptions about sunscreen.  Today's post aims at clarifying some of those misconceptions.  Let's get started!

Truth or Fiction?

You don't need sunscreen if you have dark skin or already have a tan. 

Fact: Everybody, regardless of race, ethnic origins and skin type is subject to the damaging effects of exposure to the sun. 

Sunscreen, with SPF-30 provides twice as much protection as SPF-15. 

Fact: NO.  Here's an SPF guide:
SPF 15 - 1/15 of the UVB rays get through to your skin - blocking about 93%.

SPF 30 - 1/30 of the UVB rays get through to your skin - blocking about 97%. 

SPF 50 - 1/50 of the UVB rays get through to your skin - blocking about 98%.

Waterproof sunscreen provides "all day protection" and does not need to be re-applied. 

Fact: Waterproof sunscreens loses some of their effectiveness after 40 minutes. 

Cloudy days limit the power of the sun's rays. 

Fact: 80% of the sun's ultraviolet rays can pass through clouds. 

Using sunscreen will prevent skin cancer. 

Fact: NO.  Some researchers even blame sunscreen use for encouraging people to stay in the sun longer than they should.  You should also avoid some of the chemicals used in sunscreen such as para-aminobenzoic (PABA), and oxbenzone.

• There is no rating system for UVA protection.
• Most sunscreens are good at blocking UVB rays (the ones that burn) but not UVA (the ones primarily responsible for DNA damage and melanomas).
• Very High SPF numbers (SPF-100+) are mostly marketing ploys.  SPF-30 is enough. 

Via: Best Nursing Masters Degrees

Some positive effects of UVA

• Helps with Vitamin D production: strengthens bones, muscles and the body's immune system.  It may lower the risk of getting some kinds of cancers such as colon cancer. 
• Helps some skin conditions. 
• Helps moods - sunlight stimulates the pineal gland in the brain to produce certain chemicals called 'tryptamines'.  These chemicals improve our mood.

Protection: A timeline

• Ancient Egyptians used potions to ward off tan and also heal damaged skin.  Some of those ingredients were rice bran extracts (today, gamma oryzanol), jasmine and Lupine extract. 
• Early 1930s: First sunburn cream produced by South Australian chemist HA Milton. 
• 1936: First sunscreen debuts by Eugene Schueller, founder of L'Oreal Company. 
• 1938: SPF factor developed.  First commercially available screen had SPF 2. 
• 1944: Remember the Coppertone girl.  She took a first bow this year 
• 1980: Coppertone developed the first UVA/UVB sunscreen.

If you want to make your own all-natural sunscreen, click here for the recipe!



Related post:

Sunscreen 101