Contents:
- Medical Video: The Best Sunscreen Sunblock Suncream UK | How To Protect Skin From Sunburn | What Does SPF Mean
- How does sunblock protect the skin?
- What does SPF mean for sunblock?
- How to use sunblock correctly
Medical Video: The Best Sunscreen Sunblock Suncream UK | How To Protect Skin From Sunburn | What Does SPF Mean
If you are often under sun exposure everyday, you may already be familiar with sunblock or sunscreen. Sunscreen is a treatment product that can protect the skin from sunburn. Each sunblock product offers a variety of different specifications. Some contain SPF which is quite high and there are also those with low SPF. However, do you know how do sunblocks actually work? Which product best suits your needs? Here is a complete guide to choosing and using sunblock correctly.
How does sunblock protect the skin?
Sunlight emits enormous energy. Included in this energy is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The radiation consists of two types, namely UVA and UVB. Both of these radiation can be absorbed by human skin. When absorbed by the skin, UVA and UVB risk causing various skin problems, ranging from premature aging, sunburned skin, to cancer. This is because the radiation is able to change and damage the cells in your body. So, being under exposure to the sun without protection in a long enough time is a risk to your health.
READ ALSO: How Can Solar Radiation Cause Cancer?
To protect the skin from the dangers of UVA and UVB radiation, sunblock or sunscreen will block the absorption of radiation into the surface of the skin. The dominant content in sunblock is zinc oxide (zinc oxide) and titanium dioxide. Both of these active substances function as shields on the surface of the skin. Because these two active ingredients, usually the sunblock texture feels more concentrated than the lotion in general. After covering the body with sunblock, usually on the surface of your skin there is a white layer. This layer will counteract harmful radiation.
What does SPF mean for sunblock?
You will find information on SPF levels on each sunblock package. SPF levels indicate how long you can be in the sun without burning. Everyone has a different tolerance level for UVA and UVB radiation. People who have bright skin color will usually only be resistant to exposure to sunlight without any protection for 10-12 minutes. After that, the skin will burn and harmful radiation from the sun will be absorbed by the skin. Meanwhile, people with darker skin can usually last for approximately 50 minutes. The brighter and more sensitive your skin is, the lower your tolerance for sunburn.
If you have brown skin color, you can be in the sun without protection for about 20 minutes. If you use a sunscreen cream with SPF 15, that means you can hold 15 times your tolerance level. So, you can be protected from solar radiation for 20 minutes x 15, which is 300 minutes.
READ ALSO: What Is SPF, and What Is the Difference Between Sunscreen and Sunblock?
How to use sunblock correctly
To get maximum protection from sunblock, you need to wear it properly. Find out below whether your use of sunblock has been correct so far.
- Always use sunblock even if you don't plan to go outdoors.
- Apply sunblock for at least 15 minutes before going outside.
- Even though the weather is cloudy and the sun does not sting, it does not mean you are free from UVA and UVB radiation. So make sure you keep using sunblock when you are outdoors on a cloudy day. After all, the weather may change at any time and the sun may suddenly appear.
- Use sunblock with at least SPF 30 levels, especially if your skin is pale or you are sensitive to sunburn. The higher the SPF, the lower your risk of exposure to radiation.
- Reapply sunblock on the skin after a few hours. This is because the sunblock protection effect will decrease over time.
- If your skin sweats or when you swim, sunblock will not last long on the skin. Even though you choose a waterproof sunblock (waterproof), the average resistance is only around 40-60 minutes when exposed to water. Then you have to apply sunblock again to the skin.
- Applying a thin sunblock will not provide maximum protection. The more you use sunblock, the better the results. Spread on the entire surface of your skin and light massage to absorb it faster.
- Note the expiration date on the sunblock package. Immediately replace your sunscreen if the expiration date has passed because the properties have been lost.
READ ALSO: Protect Your Skin from Radiation from the Sun in This Way
