Which sunscreen and with what SPF is suitable for your skin?

Sunscreen

Let's start with the question of whether we should use sunscreen? The answer is yes, and the use of sunscreen is recommended for people of all ages, genders and skin colors to prevent sun damage and skin diseases such as skin cancer.

There are two types of harmful rays in the sun that can damage our skin:

1. UV A, which is called UVA. This radiation causes premature aging of cells, causing blemishes on the skin. It passes through the glass and has no benefit but harm to us.

2. Ultraviolet B rays, called UVB. It does not pass through glass, but it can burn our skin when exposed to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet B rays can be beneficial and lead to the production of vitamin D in the body if they come in direct contact with our skin for a short time (not behind glass and without the use of sunscreen). By acting on the cholesterol in the skin cells, this radiation provides them with the energy needed to produce vitamin D. According to a study by Norwegian scientists, 30 minutes of sunbathing produces 10,000 to 20,000 units of vitamin D in the body, which is a significant amount. The daily requirement of vitamin D is 400 to 600 units.


However, it should be borne in mind that due to the intensity of the sun, if our skin is exposed to direct sunlight for more than 20 to 30 minutes, UV B rays are also harmful and can cause skin burns, especially in the hot season. So it can be said that the harms of UV B outweigh the benefits, and there are better ways to get vitamin D, such as taking vitamin D supplements.

The amount of ultraviolet radiation varies during the day and their intensity reaches its maximum between 10 am and 3 pm. Ultraviolet rays can damage our skin even on cloudy days. Clouds block about 20% of them, and this shows that even on days when the weather is cloudy, we should use sunscreen. Note that temperature does not affect the intensity of these rays and can damage our skin even on cold winter days.

Now, sunscreens protect our skin to a great extent against these damages.

Choosing the right sunscreen for your skin

The important point in skin protection is to choose the right sunscreen according to the intensity of the sun and the sensitivity of the skin.

There are various sunscreens on the market that have different SPFs based on the degree of protection against UV rays. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Dermatologists usually recommend sunscreen with SPF 30 for the general public. For very light and sensitive skin, the use of sunscreens with a higher SPF such as 50 is recommended.

For example, if you live in Tehran, sunscreen with SPF 15 to 30 can be suitable, and if in cities with high sunlight and close to the equator, such as cities in the south of the country, sunscreen with SPF, 50 recommendations Becomes.

SPF 30 means that 3.3% of the sun's UVB rays reach your skin (this amount of SPF can block about 97% of the sun's UVB rays). Similarly, SPF 50 means 2% of the sun's UVB rays reach your skin (this amount SPF is able to block 98% of the sun's UVB rays) No sunscreen can completely block UVB.

It is also important to note that sunscreens with high SPF are just as good as lower SPFs, and all sunscreens should be recharged every 2 hours after sweating or getting wet.


Classification of sunscreens based on type and composition

Sunscreens come in the form of creams, gels, sprays, lotions, and more. Creams are usually easier to use for the face, which has a high concentration and does not slip on the skin and does not enter the eyes after a while. For other parts of the body, sprays and lotions are recommended that are thinner and easier to apply. For men who have body hair, gel can be a good option.

Read about sunscreens. Some of them are water resistant and have Water Resistant or Water Proof written on them and are suitable for use in swimming pools, the sea and when you intend to come in contact with water. Water-resistant sunscreens are not suitable for when you do not want to get into the water and want to walk around the city, for example, because they are a little high in fat and can stain your clothes.

If your skin is oily, water-based sunscreens will work for you, and for dry skin, sunscreens should contain moisturizers that have this information written on them and pay attention to when buying.

Some laboratories produce sunscreens in different colors that you can choose the color closest to your skin. This will prevent anyone from noticing your use of sunscreen. Regarding the use of colored sunscreens, no findings have been found so far that they are harmful.

The most suitable sunscreen for you is a product that you can always use, so pay attention to the points I have mentioned.