Skin Care Post 6: Protect
- Jul 27, 2018
- 3 min read
I have learned SO MUCH about sun protection and I still feel like I don't know enough! I almost didn't write this post because I don't feel knowledgeable enough; I'm not an expert and I do not know everything there is to know. BUT, I've tried to overcome my fear, because I know there are some things that we can learn from one another. So... here I go!
All of the hard work you've put into your skin care routine is useless if you don't protect your skin from damage, especially sun damage!
We've all heard that we need to wear sunscreen. BUT... "What kind?" "What SPF?" What is SPF?" "I hate the smell." "It's so greasy." "It makes me look like a ghost!"
The only two things I THOUGHT I knew were: the higher the SPF the better and that sunscreen smelled REALLY bad, so you wear it only when absolutely necessary.
I lived in Jerusalem for 4 months and I wore sunscreen... maybe 3 times? I came back and was sooo tan! But it actually makes my stomach turn now just thinking about how much sun damage my skin got that summer.
THE LINGO
Sun damage leads to aging, wrinkles, sun spots, hyper-pigmentation, cancer, etc. Sun damage doesn't just happen when it's sunny outside or when you get a sunburn. Sun damage occurs when UV rays (UVA and UVB) come into contact or interact with your skin.
UVA rays are the most common UV rays (they make up about 95% of the UV rays). UVA rays can penetrate the skin deeper than UVB rays and can cause aging, wrinkles, and skin cancer. UVA rays are generally what is used in tanning beds. UVA rays can penetrate glass! (This is why having a daily sunscreen is a good idea.)
UVB rays don't penetrate as deeply as UVA rays, but they cause skin irritation, sunburn, skin cancer, etc.
SPF: Sun Protection Factor
SPF isn't something to set your life by; it is mostly for marketing! SPF is a measurement of how long you should be able to stay in the sun without your skin turning pink... which is a pretty hard thing to measure accurately! That also means that SPF is really only working to measure UVB damage, not UVA damage. A good rule of thumb: try to stay within 30-50 SPF and reapply regularly.
*The FDA is contemplating a ban on any sunscreen labeled with an SPF above 50 because it is nearly impossible to get a sunscreen that would last THAT long without reapplying it!
PHYSICAL VS. CHEMICAL
Physical sunscreens are mineral based (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) and work by reflecting UV rays away from your skin. Physical or mineral sunscreens are sometimes referred to as "sunblock" because they block the UV rays. Physical sunscreens naturally protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Physical sunscreens are generally thicker, have a white cast, and come off more easily with activity. However, they are generally less irritating to the skin than chemical sunscreens and they start working the instant you put them on!
Chemical sunscreens are organic or carbon-based (oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone) and work by absorbing the UV rays, changing the UV rays into heat, and releasing the heat from the skin. Chemical sunscreens can be more powerful, last longer during activity, and be easier to apply than physical sunscreens.
Did you know that chemical sunscreens take several minutes to become effective? Yup, that's right! You should apply your chemical sunscreens BEFORE you get in the car to drive to your hike, not once you get to the trailhead!
Chemical sunscreens can also be very irritating to sensitive and heat-activated (like rosacea) skin. ALSO, not all chemical sunscreens protect against both types of UV rays! So, make sure that your sunscreen is "broad spectrum", which means that it has ingredients to counteract both types of UV rays.
So which one is right for you? It depends on the sensitivity of your skin, the type of activity you will be doing, etc!
You can find combo sunscreens that have physical and chemical properties, so you get the best of both worlds (and hopefully get to skip the cons of each type). But it really depends on what YOU are looking for in your sun protection products!
There are so many good options out there for daily sunscreens! You don't have to look like a ghost, smell like you are headed to the lake, or get clogged pores from the greasy formula to get sun protection.
Just make sure that you are wearing sunscreen EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It doesn't matter what you are doing for the day, your skin deserves to get a daily dose of sun protection... even if you aren't hitting the slopes or going to the beach! Seek out shade when you are outside and just BE SMART!
XOXO
TIFFANY
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