Answer: Although we’ve been blessed with something of an Indian summer this year, the bad news is that it’s not likely to last for much longer. If you’re one of those who can’t wait for the good weather to come back and are lucky enough to be able to take a break somewhere warm in the winter, it’s a good idea take some precautions and stock up on some of the right kind of sun cream both for yourself and the young ones who might need it even more. Here’s a quick guide.
What exactly is SPF?
The letters on our bottles of sun block stand Sun Protection Factor. This is why we describe the strength of our sunscreen as being a “Factor” followed by a number. We’ve all talked about wearing “Factor 30” or only putting on “Factor 15” when we want to get some colour, but how many of us know what those numbers mean in practice? The SPF number actually corresponds to the amount of time that the sunblock will protect the wearer, multiplied by the amount of time it usually takes them to burn without protection. In essence, if you get burned after ten minutes in the sun without sun block, then an SPF 15 will protect you for 150 minutes (10 minutes x 15).
An Inexact Science
Picking out a sunscreen would seem on the surface to be rather straightforward then. If Factor 15 can give you protection for 150 minutes, or two and a half hours, then Factor 60 will protect you for four times longer, ten hours even.
Wrong! Unfortunately, SPF numbers are an inexact measurement and work for this amount of time only in theory. A trip to the beach isn’t complete without a dip in the sea and then drying off with a towel afterward, for example. The strongest SPF, even if it claims to be waterproof, is not going to hold up to that. Heat also results in the body’s natural cooling system, sweat, kicking in, and sweat also washes away your sunblock.
The unpredictability of SPF numbers and the myriad situations in which you could be using it means that the labels will tell you that you always need to re-apply every two hours to be guaranteed of sun protection.
What to look for…
When choosing the best sunblock for you and your family then look out for the following –
Physical and Chemical Sunblocks: Both of these variants work to protect the skin differently. Physical sunblocks, for example, scatter the ultraviolet (UV) rays before they reach the skin and sit on the face and body rather being absorbed into it. They are recommended for children and older people with sensitive skin as they are less likely to irritate as a result.
Chemical sunblocks are absorbed by the skin, and they work by nullifying the harmful effects of the sun before they can cause harm. Because UV rays come in different layers, a variety of chemicals are blended to give the best all round protection available.
Many brands of sun cream provide a combination sunblock that uses both physical and chemical ingredients.
UV rays come in two varieties, UVA and UVB. Because UVB is the variety which causes sunburn, SPF’s were developed only with them in mind. Since then, however, the negative consequences of UVA (namely, premature aging of the skin) and its tendency to also increase the risk of skin cancer have become more widely known. Luckily, to combat this, new “broad spectrum” sunblocks have been developed and you should read the labels carefully to ensure that your intended protection contains an ingredient like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or oxybenzone, which will block UVA as well as UVB.
To sum up, look for a bit more than a simple high SPF when you’re travelling anywhere with a lot of sun. Ask at your local pharmacy for a good quality sunblock that uses both physical and chemical ingredients, along with protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy
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