Sunscreen is “A loyal best friend” you can rely on for UVA and UVB protection. Unfortunately, wearing sunscreens without proper awareness can not save your skin from UV rays’ negative impact. Not all sunscreens are designed equally. The effectiveness of the product depends upon the type of sunscreen you are wearing and how you are using it. We do understand your position of being confused between too many sunscreens.
Keep your worries aside, we have rounded up the best tips for you which will help you to choose the right sunscreen for your skin.
5 potential mistakes to avoid while choosing your spf
- Ignoring the fact that broad-spectrum matter
- Not considering your skin type
- Ignoring the Strength of SPF
- Using sunscreen with harmful ingredients
- Neglecting the signs of product expiry
1. Ignoring the fact that broad-spectrum matter
Shopping for sunscreen and ignoring broad-spectrum filters is the most common and serious mistake.
Sun emits two types of rays: UVA and UVB. Both are harmful and cause damage to your skin in the form of premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and cracked skin.
Having a broad spectrum filter in your sunscreen will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays.
2. Not considering your skin type
Wearing sunscreen is not enough if you are not buying it according to your skin type. Since everyone has a unique skin type using a similar product formulation can lead to breakouts and irritating skin.
Therefore, dermatologists suggest choosing SPF according to your skin type. If you have dry or combination skin, then opt for hydrating ingredients. For oily skin, go for non-comedogenic ingredients that do not clog your pores.
3. Ignoring the Strength of SPF
Yes, it’s true that sunscreen protects our body like a “bulletproof jacket”. Still, many of us ignore the strength of SPF while buying sunscreen.
If you look deeply, sunscreen has different SPF to protect the body from sun damage. It is important to look for sunscreen having spf 30 or higher due to the fact that it can provide 98% protection against UVB rays.
Diluting sunscreen filters with other products ingredients can decrease the ability of SPF protection which results in improper protection from the sun. Therefore, it is advised to use a separate product for sunscreen for full protection.
4. Using sunscreen with harmful ingredients
Numerous research studies have reported that some formulations in sunscreen contain harmful ingredients that make it risky to use on the skin.
Oxybenzone is a petroleum-based chemical widely used in many sunscreen.
Many research studies have found that frequent use of this chemical sunscreen ingredients can cause hormonal disruption in human body and environmental toxicity as well.
PABA - Para -Aminobenzoic Acid was a very popular UVB sunscreen filter. Although the use of this ingredient has been decreased due to its negative side effects.
The topical use of this ingredient causes allergic reaction and contact dermatitis. It has been found to generate free radicals in the human body and a particular DNA defect that increases risk of skin cancer.
5. Neglecting the sign of product expiry
Every product has its own shelf-life, including sunscreens that range from two to three years completely depending upon formulations. Using sunscreen after the expiry date will not give proper protection from the sun as its UV filters start degrading which make it less effective.
Moreover, make sure to keep your sunscreen at an even temperature because exposing your sunscreen to extreme heat or cold temperature can make chemicals inactivate. Do not stock up sunscreen but buy a new one when its consistency and colour change.
Unprotected sun exposure is a major culprit to trigger irreversible damage like sunburn, hyperpigmentation, photoaging and skin cancer. If you can not avoid the sun, then it’s important to use sunscreen. It acts as an important weapon to fight against harmful UV rays coming from the sun. Though all sunscreens are not of the same formulation, It is essential to choose the one that is gentle, non comedogenic and non irritating, and suits your skin perfectly.
P.S.
Are you one of those people who skip sunscreen on winter days, thinking that the sun is not out, and the temperature is low. However, don’t mistake sunscreen as an option during winters. A research study by arch dermatol journal shows that UVA rays in winter are as strong as during summer that can damage skin and cause premature ageing and wrinkles. Therefore, it is advised to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen all year long.
