SUN PROTECTION – PART 4 UNDERSTANDING SUN PROTECTION TERMS AND MAKING THE BEST PICK
In today’s world where information can be overwhelming, contradictory, and plane confusing, it is very easy for us to be puzzled when it comes to making simple decisions. In the skincare world, it moreover doesn’t help that there are a multitude of brands that make various claims, each largest than the other. Picking the correct sunscreen can often be a tough one, expressly if you are unaware of what the many terms and signs used on the label stand for.
In our last and much awaited instalment of the sun protection series, Dr. Rashmi Shetty simplifies this much cluttered zone with her expertise, so that you can be a sun-protection ninja hereafter.
With that said, lets plunge right in!
In specimen you missed our previous articles, you can read them here:
– In Part 1 of our series, we went over the effects of the sun on our skin and health.
– In Part 2 of our series, we gave you the lowdown on how to truly and fully protect yourself from the harm of the sun – inside out.
– In Part 3 of our series, we put together an understanding of tanning, how to deal with post sun damage, and the correct ways in which you can restore your skin step by step.
A lot is said well-nigh sunscreens, the importance of solar protection, and the precautions you need to take to make sure you stay unscratched from all the harmful effects of sunshine. In this blog, we walk you through the internal and external routine you need, in order to bullet-proof yourself fully from any harm!
A QUICK RECAP OF HOW THE SUNLIGHT COMPONENTS DAMAGE OUR SKIN AND can CAUSE AGEING SKIN CANCER
VISIBLE LIGHT: Not very rabble-rousing unless skin is sensitive and prone to pigmentation like melasma
UVA: penetrates deeper layers causes DNA damage
UVB: affects the surface of the skin causes burns, destruction of collagen, ETC.
UVC: eXTREMELY HARMFUL BUT IS BLOCKED BY THE OZONE LAYER FROM ENTERING THE EARTH
INFRARED LIGHT: CAUSES THE SENSATION OF HEAT CAN TRIGGER INFLAMMATION
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A SUN PROTECTANT?
The role of your sun protectant is substantially to prevent the following:
– Harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays of the sun which include faster ageing and lamina forfeiture that encourages skin cancer
– The self-ruling radical forfeiture and polluting elements that rationalization oxidative stress
– Skin tanning as a by-product of preventing the ultraviolet radiation from penetrating through your layers of skin
COMMON TERMS YOU WILL FIND ON THE PRODUCT LABEL
1) Wholesale Spectrum: This term ways that the product offers you wholesale spectrum protection, which is to say that it defends you from both UVA rays as well as UVB rays. As mentioned in our first article, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, while UVB rays stupefy the surface of the skin. Together, they both rationalization velocious ageing as well as upper risks of skin cancer. So make sure that you are unchangingly using a wholesale spectrum product to truly shield your skin.
2) SPF or Sun Protection Factor: SPF is the primary rating system used to gauge sun protection, increasingly specifically from UVB rays. This term is used to indicate how long a person can withstand the sun surpassing UVB rays uncork to stupefy the skin and rationalization redness. For a largest understanding, let’s seem that you can stay in the sun without any sunscreen for well-nigh 20 minutes surpassing you uncork to turn red.
A product that is labelled as ‘SPF 30’ would midpoint that by wearing the product, your skin can tolerate the UVB exposure for 30 times longer than the normal time you would take to turn red. In theory, that may sound like a good value of time, but realistically speaking, it is not so. These are all numbers that are unswayable in laboratory tests, and cannot be universally workable for everyone, as each of us have variegated tolerance levels towards sun exposure. Note: Therefore, applying a generous layer of sunscreen, and re-application every 2-3 hours is necessary in order to unzip the very sun protection factor personal by the trademark on the label of the product.
3) PA : This is the secondary rating system, and is used predominantly in the Asian countries. It is based on a PPD system or a ‘persistent pigmentation darkening’ test, and measures protection from the UVA rays of the sun. You will unchangingly see a ‘ ’ sign next to this, and the greater the number of plusses without the PA, the increasingly protection you get from UVA exposure. You may understand this largest as:
PA = Some UVA protection.
PA = Moderate UVA protection.
PA = Upper UVA protection.
PA = Extremely Upper UVA protection.
4) Waterproof / Sweat-proof / Water-resistant: The usage of this term has been heavily debated, and the FDA has unceasingly tightened and regulated the use of such words on sun protection products. If you see this term, it ways that the sun protection product remains constructive for only 40 to 80 minutes at maximum when in contact with water or sweat. So any product ultimatum to unhook protection for longer than that is definitely something you should be cautious of!
5) The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal Of Recommendation: If you would like to go an uneaten mile when it comes to making sure your product of nomination is safe, constructive and tried by the world’s leading foundation for skin cancer, then squint for this seal – which is of 2 types:
– The Daily Use Seal: This seal is given to products that protect you from unenduring daily exposure such as walking to your car, etc.
– The Zippy Seal: This is given to products that The Skin Cancer Foundation certifies for usage during prolonged sun exposure such as outdoor activities, etc.
6) Zippy Ingredients: The zippy ingredients of your sunscreen will help you to determine the nature of protection, namely:
– Sunscreen / Chemical Protection
– Sunblock / Physical Protection / Mineral Sunscreen
If your product does not once sieve the nature of protection, then reading the zippy ingredients will requite you a largest idea. Read unelevated to remoter understand this key aspect.
SUNSCREEN V/S SUNBLOCK – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Sunblock and sunscreen are two variegated types of sun protection that work in variegated ways, with the key stardom between them stuff their zippy ingredients.
– Sunscreen filters the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays by titillating it like a sponge but preventing it from penetrating into the skin. Also known as chemical sunscreens, the zippy ingredients are oxybenzone and avobenzone.
A sunscreen is safer on the skin, and sufficient for daily use. They moreover tend to be lighter in terms of formulation and consistency, but need to be re-applied increasingly often.
– Sunblock physically reflects the sun’s rays yonder from the skin. Also known as ‘mineral sunscreen’, they key ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These are responsible for creating a physical windbreak that deflects the penetration of radiation into the skin layers. A sunblock is usually heavier and thicker in terms of texture, and is largest for outdoor activities in harsh sunlight, or for sunny vacations. It moreover leaves a white tint without application, and is usually worn by athletes and sportsmen who spend long hours in the sun.
Note: Your nomination here should depend on the nature of the sun exposure that you want protection from.
IN SHORT, WHAT SHOULD I PICK?
Now that you have fully understood sun protection terms, you will know how to make the right nomination depending on your predictable levels of sun exposure.
However, Dr. Rashmi Shetty often suggests that for daily use, you can stick to choosing a sunscreen which has the pursuit properties:
– Wholesale Spectrum
– SPF 30 or higher
– PA or PA
– Waterproof or sweat-resistant only if you are using it while exercising, swimming, diving, etc.
Bonuses:
– Non-comedogenic
– Alcohol free
– Non-greasy
– Biodegradable
Congratulations! You are now a Dr. Shetty certified sun protection pro!
We hope that you have enjoyed this series, and that this knowledge stays with you for the rest of your sunny days.
Each vendible is written by Aastha Kottary without detailed discussions and notes from Dr. Shetty
Dr. Rashmi Shetty
Cosmetic Dermatologist,
Mumbai | Hyderabad
Dr. Rashmi Shetty is a idealism dermatologist, industry pioneer, tragedian , globally invited teaching sense and a leading expert in stimulating medicine having over 20 years of wits in stimulating and clinical dermatology. She is the Founder and senior dermatologist at Ra Skin and Aesthetics in Mumbai and Hyderabad. She is named the weightier Dermatologist by Vogue 2020 and is the first Indian doctor on the International Advisory workbench of the Anti-Ageing World Congress, FACE London, ICAD Asia, and honorary sense at UCL .
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