When exposed unprotected, sun rays can cause serious health problems, from aging to wrinkles and even skin cancer. Although sunlight has benefits in areas such as vitamin D synthesis, UV rays from the sun can damage skin cells and cause structural changes. The easiest way to protect yourself from these harmful effects of the sun is to use regular and correct sunscreen. Although there are many types of sunscreen on the market, it is very important to choose the one that is suitable for your health and skin structure. By choosing an appropriate sunscreen and regular use of sunscreen at the right time and amount, you can protect your skin from damage caused by the harmful rays of the sun.
How to Choose Sunscreen?
The first step to effective sun protection is choosing the right sunscreen. The first and most important answer to questions such as what to pay attention to when buying sunscreen and how to choose sunscreen is that products from reliable brands approved by health authorities should be preferred. It is currently possible to find many types of sunscreen on the market. Choosing the cream that best suits your skin type and skin color will provide maximum protection from the sun. Therefore, it is useful to consult a dermatologist when choosing sunscreen. One of the most frequently asked questions before buying a cream is how many factors should sunscreen have? Sun creams have a value called SPF (Sun protection factor) and this value is an indicator of the cream’s power to protect the skin from the sun. Most experts recommend the use of sunscreens containing at least 15 SPF, and at least 30 SPF when spending long time outdoors. Another issue that should be taken into consideration is that the sunscreen used provides protection against both UV-A and UV-B types of sun rays. Sunscreen may lose its effectiveness if it comes into contact with water while sweating or swimming. In such cases, waterproof sunscreens should be preferred. The substance called paraaminobenzoic acid (PABA), contained in some sunscreens, may cause sensitivity or allergic reactions in certain people. These people can choose from products that say they do not contain PABA. For oily and acne-prone skin, it is beneficial to choose water-based sun products. You can choose from sunscreen alternatives for acne-prone skin that are easily available in the market. Sunscreen products have different alternatives in cream, spray and stick formats. You can choose among these that suit your personal preferences and skin structure. When choosing sunscreen for children and babies, it is recommended to seek dermatologist advice and choose products with a high protection factor, as their skin structures are much more sensitive.
In addition to all these, the expiration date should be checked when purchasing sunscreen. Products that have exceeded their recommended expiration date should never be used as they may have lost their effectiveness or been structurally damaged. If the sunscreen used causes allergic reactions on the skin, a dermatologist should be consulted; A switch to a different product should be made in the light of the doctor’s evaluation and recommendations.
When to Use Sunscreen?
Sunscreens should be used not only during sunbathing, but also before going outdoors during daylight hours, regardless of summer or winter, and should be renewed regularly. In order to obtain effective protection from the sun, sunscreen should be used at the right time. Experts recommend applying sunscreen approximately 30 minutes before going out in the sun. This is because chemical sunscreens need to be absorbed by the skin to reach their maximum effect. If the sunscreen is not fully absorbed by the skin, it will not have sufficient effect and may be washed away from the skin surface as a result of sweating or contact with water. Sunscreens with physical (mineral) filters can be applied without a certain waiting period, as they start to take effect immediately after being applied to the skin surface. Sunscreen needs to be renewed regularly in situations such as working outdoors, staying under the sun for a long time, swimming or doing intense physical activity and sweating. Regeneration time may vary depending on the type and protection factor of the sunscreen. Therefore, the answers to questions such as how many hours sunscreen protects, how long it takes to renew sunscreen, and how many times a day sunscreen should be applied vary. However, even the most intense sunscreens should be renewed every 2 hours maximum. This 2-hour process starts the moment the cream is applied. For the most accurate usage times, the product’s usage instructions should be examined and acted accordingly and the sunscreen should be renewed when necessary.
How Should Sunscreen Be Used?
Another issue that is as important as choosing the right sunscreen is the correct use of sunscreen. First of all, to start with the answer to the question of how to apply sunscreen, if the product used is in liquid form, care should be taken to maintain its homogeneous structure. It is recommended to shake the packaging well, especially before using spray and lotion type creams, to ensure that all contents are homogeneous. If stick type products are used, such a situation will not be possible. The question of how many minutes after moisturizer should sunscreen be applied is frequently asked, especially by people with dry skin. Experts recommend applying sunscreens with chemical effects on clean skin without using any products. For this reason, skin cleansing can be done with products such as cleanser and tonic before chemical sunscreens, but no cream or make-up product should be applied. Although sunscreens have a certain moisturizing effect, this effect will not be sufficient for very dry skin. Therefore, if chemical sunscreens are preferred, you should wait about 20 minutes after applying sunscreen and then use a moisturizer. Since physical sunscreens show their effect on the skin surface, there is no harm in applying these products after using moisturizers and make-up products. It should also be ensured that a sufficient amount of product is used. The approximate amount of product that should be applied to the entire body for an average adult is a handful. It should be ensured that sunscreen is applied evenly to the entire body, including areas such as the ears, back, shoulders, back of the legs and knees. The eye area, which is very sensitive to the sun, should be included in sunscreen application. However, for the more sensitive facial area, it is beneficial to choose sunscreen products produced specifically for this area. Sunscreen should be renewed after swimming, sweating or drying with a towel. If such a situation does not exist, the cream will lose its effect after a while when exposed to the sun for a long time, and in this case, the cream must be renewed. Renewing the cream in accordance with the usage instructions of the protective product used provides maximum protection from the sun. The question of how to remove sunscreen can be answered by routine skin cleansing at the end of the day. The skin can be cleaned effectively by using cleansing gels, toners and moisturizers suitable for the skin structure.
Many positive effects such as preventing sunburns, preventing the formation of moles and blemishes, helping to protect from skin cancer, and slowing down skin aging can be counted among the benefits of sunscreen. For this reason, it is recommended that every individual, regardless of skin color, use sunscreen regularly to protect against the harmful effects of the sun. You can also consult dermatologists and get sunscreen recommendations from your doctor, and protect your skin by regularly using the product suitable for you and your skin.
