Sunscreen: Here is what you need to know when choosing sunscreen
SPF, types of UV rays, mineral and chemical screens, how much sunscreen to use
Do you know why we associate ☀️ the sun with happiness? There is a scientific reason for this and it is related to hormones.
Exposure to sunlight has been shown to increase the release of the hormone serotonin from the brain. Serotonin helps to raise our mood and makes us feel more calm and focused.
Unfortunately, the coin always has two sides - sun exposure can cause serious damage to our skin if we do not wear sunscreen.
Sunscreen is the best skincare.
In addition to protecting against cancer, sunscreen products help prevent the damage that UV rays cause to the skin - pigmentation and wrinkles. In other words, sunscreen products help us look younger for longer. No matter what anti-aging product we choose, it will not be completely effective if we do not use sunscreen.
Sometimes choosing the right product is a big challenge because of the variety of sunscreen products on the market.
Some of the questions I've asked myself before diving into the sea of information about choosing sunscreen were the following:
- What is the difference between sunscreen products?
- Does the double number of sun protection factor protect us twice as much?
- Is the best sunscreen with SPF100?
Here is what I have learned over the years and what I think is extremely important when choosing a sunscreen.
Let's start with the fact that there are 3 types of ultraviolet rays:
- UVA (wavelength 320-400 nm)
- UVB (wavelength 280-320 nm)
- UVC (wavelength 100-280 nm)
UVA rays have a longer wavelength than UVB rays and can penetrate deeper into the skin but do not cause skin burns. UVA rays are called the "silent killers" of the sun because we can't feel their influence. They are responsible for premature skin aging. Their intensity is relatively constant throughout the year. UVA rays can pass through glass. There are two types: UVA1 and UVA2.
UVB rays damage the upper layer of the skin, causing redness and burning. Their intensity is highest in the summer months and at noon. UVB rays do not pass through glass.
UVC rays barely reach the Earth's surface because they are absorbed by the ozone layer.
Look for broad spectrum protection
It's very important that the sunscreen product provides broad-spectrum protection, which means that it effectively protects against both UVB rays and UVA rays.
Therefore, we must pay attention not only to the total SPF, but also to what UVA filters are included in the sunscreen product - we are looking for broad-spectrum photo-protection.