10 facts you should know about sunscreens; and how to select the best sunscreen for yourself?
- A sunscreen is essential all through the year and yes even in rains but it's needed mostly during summers as UVB gets stronger then& hence sun burns etc are more common!
- Use a waterproof sunscreen with at least a 30 SPF (sun protection factor) for protection from sun’s UV ray's A&B damage, sun burns, premature aging and skin cancer. “For oily skin, gel-based sunscreen, while combination and dry skin should use a sunscreen moisturiser with mat finish if putting make up on it else a cream based which gets absorbed well without leaving a residual layer".
- Always make sure to change brand of sunscreen every 6 monthly so as to ensure skin is best protected and also not becoming sensitive or immune to any of the contents.
- Sunscreen should be first layer applied on skin to produce the block and then on top of it only a day cream and above it a foundation or bb cream but first apply sunscreen.
- Sunscreen prevents skin tanning. Sunscreen mainly helps us against skin cancer and photoageing. Which means sunscreen helps against wrinkling of skin and also, pigmentation problems, etc.
- Sunscreen SPF higher it is more effective! SPF matters only when sun exposure is continuously for prolonged hours and also SPF 26 above is sufficient for Indian skin and be its SPF 26 or SPF 50 both need to be reapplied after 3 hours if sun exposure is being continued.
- Sunscreen leaves a white mark on face. That's not seen in routine sunscreens but the sunscreen with a physical blocker. So the kind actually which is used by sportsmen and people exposed to lot of sun.
- More expensive the better. Noway! All what matters is its put 10-15 minutes before going in the sun and reapplied every 3 hourly if still in sun or going again in sun exposure. Also, contents should be of both UVA and UVB blocker.
- Sunscreen contains PABA and has complications. There is rarely any sunscreen which has paba after 2013.
- Sunscreen using can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Noway! It's been proven that sunscreen doesn't interfere with vitamin D / sunshine vitamin production in the skin.
- No Sunscreen for People who have skin allergies or sensitive skin.
Infact sunscreen is mandatory for them as else skin conditions like rosacea may also develop. But for sensitive skin people choose a sunblock with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide instead of chemicals like para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone but surely avoid sunscreens with alcohol, fragrances, or preservatives.