5 Skin Care Myths You Should Know About Tanning, SPF and UV Rays
Part I of V
Ah the sun. Friend or foe? A little of both really. Without the sun where would we be, however exposing our skin to too much sun also is not a good thing. Seems like the sun in BC is hitting hard even before the summer solstice has arrived.
There are plenty of different myths out there about what is good and what is bad about tanning, SPF and UV rays. So how can someone truly know what to follow and what to ignore? In this week’s blog, we look at some of the most common myths out there and debunk them for you.
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Base Tans & Tanning Booths
One of the most common myths out there is that if you develop a base tan (sun tanning a little bit every day), you will protect your skin from harmful sunburns. The truth is, base tans increase your risk of getting a sun burn because you think your skin is protected, when in fact it is not, leading you to stay out in the sun longer then you should. Similarly, many believe that tanning booths are safe because they do not expose you to the UVB rays which cause sunburns. The truth is, tanning booths still have UVA rays which go deeper into your skin and can damage your skin by causing premature aging and skin cancers as well.
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You Get More Protection With Higher SPF
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is essentially a product that protects you from harmful UVA and UVB rays. In very general terms, the number of SPF refers to how long you can stay out in the sun without getting burned. However it’s not an exact science and there are many other factors to consider. For instance, sunscreen with SPF relates to the protection from UVB rays the product offers, but does not necessarily provide protection from UVA rays. So if you still need protection from UVA rays, make sure the product you buy has a minimum of SPF15 and is a broad spectrum sunscreen, meaning it includes either mexoryl, oxybenzone or avobenzone which will provide protection from harmful UVA rays.
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There is No Need For Sunscreen On Cloudy Days
Cloudy days are probably the most dangerous as people do not realize that up to 80 percent of the UV rays can still penetrate your skin. Make sure you apply sunscreen every day and continue to reapply every two hours if you are continuously outdoors. And if you are swimming or sweating, chances are the sunscreen is no longer effective and should also be reapplied after your activity.
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I Have Enough SPF In My Makeup To Protect Me
It is great that you purchased makeup with SPF, however the truth is you would have to apply 10 to 15 times more makeup then normal in order to get the right amount of protection on your face. For the best protection, buy a proper facial sunscreen and apply it before applying any makeup.
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I Need To Get My Vitamin D From The Sun
The sun is not your only source of vitamin D out there. If vitamin D deficiency is truly a concern, speak to your doctor about how to incorporate vitamin D-rich foods into your diet or including daily vitamins.