Monday, July 20, 2009

Terms You Might Want To Know When Buying A Brand Of Sunscreen For Your Family

By John Maltakiso

Protecting your family from the dangerous rays of the sun is crucial in keeping the skin healthy and wrinkle-free. Sunscreen aids in this protection by reflecting, soaking in, and/or scattering harmful radiation the sun reflects down to us.

Sunscreen is available in several different forms: lotion, spray, gel, cream, and sometimes makeup. Failure to use sunscreen can result in premature aging of the skin, and in some cases, skin cancer.

When purchasing a sunscreen, it is essential to read the bottle for what the contents are. There are many terms that might not make sense to everyone; some of them are:

* UVA (Ultraviolet A) - This unseen ultraviolet radiation has a long wavelength that reaches far into layers of the skin. These rays are very harmful because they can be hitting the skin without the person knowing it.

* UVB (Ultraviolet B) - UVB is a kind of light that the sun emits. The wavelength of this kind of radiation is simpler than UVA and is known to cause sunburn and other skin problems.

* SPF (Sun Protection Factor) - This denotes the strength of protection that a particular sunscreen can give for someone. A number is written on the jar of sunscreen indicating the strength of it. The higher types provides more protection than the lower sunscreens. It is mentioned that someone being exposed to the sun apply a minimum of SPF 15 to the skin regularly and reapply when necessary.

* UVR (Ultraviolet Radiation) - This stuff is real radiation from the sun that can result in premature aging, spots, sunburn, wrinkles, and even worse - cancer. In addition, this stuff can hurt your immune system.

* Water Resistant - Some sunscreens are actually water resistant in that they stay on the skin longer and are said to withstand water from the pool, ocean, or any other type of water source. Swimmers can go for longer without having to reapply and still be protected. However, it is a good idea to reapply sunscreen, even if the sunscreen is water resistant, because sunscreen wares off through longer stays in the water. Water resistant does not equal water proof.

In addition to the different terms on sunscreen containers, there are also two types of sunscreens: physical blockers and chemical combatants. Physical blockers go through a process and physically block harmful rays of the sun by reflecting UVA and UVB rays back from your body. Chemical blockers though absorb some of the radiation; usually the ones with shorter wavelengths.

Whichever type you choose, it is important to apply and reapply when needed. Sunscreens will be as effective as much as you need them to be - one must apply the sunscreen thoroughly and reapply every couple of hours. The sun can be a great and beautiful thing to be with outdoors. Though, it can be your worst nightmare if you forget to protect the exposed skin. Knowing what to look for in a sunscreen will keep your skin beautiful and ageless for many years.

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