A blue summer sky with cotton candy clouds makes you wanna spend more time outside.
But do you know these pleasant sunny vibes can actually damage your skin? Staying outdoors for prolonged durations without protection can increase the risk of skin conditions such as premature aging, sunburn, melasma, and dark spots.
Considerably, athletes and people who spend a significant amount of their time under the sun for activities such as cycling, swimming, skating, cricket are more likely at risk than others.
But hey, you relax! Every problem comes with a solution, so do this. We understand you can not limit the time outdoors, but you can always include sunscreen in your routine to protect your skin from sun damage.
That’s why before stepping out for hours in the sun, everyone and especially athletes must wear sunscreen.
4 Important Things to Look for While Choosing a Sunscreen
Skin protection is important. Therefore, your duty does not end with slathering on sunscreen. It is important to look for an appropriate sun care product that is safe and effective for longer durations.
1. Pick the sunscreen that says “broad spectrum”
Sun emits two types of rays: UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate the deeper layers of skin, making it more likely to have wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. Whereas, UVB rays damage the top layer of skin, causing sunburn.
Look for the sunscreen formulas that have a broad-spectrum term on the labels. As these sunscreens give your skin protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
2. Higher the SPF better the protection
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor which indicates how much protection your sunscreen provides you against UVB rays. And nowadays, lots of sunscreen with different SPF are present in the market which might confuse you while buying your sunscreen.
To sort your dilemma, various studies have found that sunscreen with SPF 30 or above is best for optimum protection from the sun. SPF30 filters 97% of UVB rays. Whereas, SPF 50 sunscreen gives better protection to your skin by blocking 98% of UVB rays.
3. Know the importance of PA rating in sunscreen
While talking about prioritizing sun protection, it is important to look for PA ratings on sunscreen labels. PA stands for “Protection Grade of UVA.”
Different PA ratings offer different levels of UVA protection such as -
- PA+ offers some UVA protection
- PA++ offers moderate UVA protection
- PA+++ offers good UVA protection
- PA++++ offers the highest UVA protection
4. Look for water-resistant/ sweat-resistant and non-comedogenic properties
When you are out for swimming and other outdoor activities, you should use sunscreen that cannot be washed off easily. The ones that are labeled as water-resistant act as a safeguard for the skin against UVA/UVB rays during humid and hot weather conditions.
Another important quality to look for in sunscreen is that it should be non-comedogenic. It refers to products that do not clog your pores. The use of such sunscreens helps to prevent blockage of pores and avoid the chances of breakouts.
Final thought
Sunscreen is an integral part of your skincare routine. Many research studies reveal that prolonged unprotected sun exposure makes your skin susceptible to sunburn, tanning, and premature aging. Therefore, skincare experts advise to look for a sunscreen that gives optimum sun protection and is also safe for the long run.
Also, make sure to apply sunscreen on other exposed areas such as ears, neck, hands, and arms. Reapplying sunscreen throughout the day is also very crucial for complete safety against sunrays.
