What you need to know as summer approaches.
Did you know that 90% of skin ageing is caused by repeated exposure to the sun? Photo-ageing (the term given to this sort of sun damage) affects the tone, colour and texture of the face, neck, and back of the hands – and often the arms and upper chest area. But when looking for a suitable sunscreen, what do the terms UVA and UVB actually mean?
UVA (A can be thought of as Ageing) is a long wavelength that penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB. It’s responsible for causing loss of texture and tone, broken blood vessels, and drooping and sagging from damage to the underlying structure of the skin. UVB (B can be thought of as burning) is a shorter wavelength responsible for causing sunburn, discoloration, skin lesions, spots, and wrinkles.
Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen everyday (on the exposed parts of your body) will help block UVA and UVB rays from damaging your skin. Make sure to apply enough sunscreen to provide good skin coverage and ensure it’s applied at least 20 minutes before heading outside.
Most sunscreens only protect two hours, so reapplying throughout the day, especially if you’ve been in the water, is a must.
There are two types of sunscreens – chemical and physical. Generally, chemical barriers absorb the UVs, converting them into energy and then safely filtering them through the body’s own cooling system. Physical zinc-based sunscreens, on the other hand, bounce the UVs back and away from the body, scattering it like a mirror ball on a dance floor.
Short on time? Be aware that zinc blocks immediately, while a chemical sun block takes at least 30 minutes to be absorbed before it’s fully effective.
Tip: It’s most effective to apply chemical sunscreen underneath your moisturiser.
Do it right: Applying a layer of sunscreen once in the morning won’t give enough sun protection. To really take care of your skin and prevent damage, you must use sunscreen properly – and regularly. Get into the habit of using sunscreen every day, even if it’s cold or cloudy. Also apply liberally.
Here are some general guidelines for how much to apply:
- Face: 1/4 teaspoon
- Neck (front and back): 1/4 teaspoon
- Arms: 1/2 teaspoon each
- Legs: 1 teaspoon each
- Chest: 1 teaspoon
- Back: 1 teaspoon
Read the label and reapply as often as the manufacturer recommends. Following swimming or exercise while wearing sunscreen, it’s a good idea to reapply.
Regardless of how much time spent enjoying the sun, you may
benefit from the peace of mind of a full body skin cancer consultation at Skin Institute to ensure there are no areas of concern that could eventually lead to something serious, such as melanoma.
In addition, Skin Institute doctors and appearance medicine nurses can not only treat existing sun damage of sun spot and pigmentation but also provide personalised advice on prevention and maintenance to help keep skin looking and feeling healthy all year round.
