UVB Rays Vs UVA Rays and Sunscreen Selection Tips
Do you know the difference between UVB and UVA rays? UVB rays are considered the "tanning ray," and are strongest in the summer, when the earth rotates closest to the sun.
This ray will penetrate the epidermis (the top layer of your skin), which has about the same thickness of a silk scarf.
UVB rays stimulate the melanocyte cell to produce more melanin, which is the pigment in our skin.
UVA, often regarded as the "safe" ray, is now known to be even more harmful than UVB rays because UVA rays are the same strength regardless of the time of year.
It doesn't matter how close or how far the sun is; these rays go through clothing, car and office windows and hats.
So, a good sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater with UVA/UVB protection should always be used.
You should apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before going into the sun.
Because sunlight regulates our biological clock and provides essential vitamin D, common sense should be used in determining amount of sun exposure.
As far as laser hair removal is concerned, the amount of your sun exposure plays a part in determining if you qualify for treatment.
So if you are interested in continuing laser treatments this summer, please be sure to avoid the sun as much as you can and use SPF 15 or greater.
Also, be aware of the ingredients of your sunscreens.
The Two Most Important Sunscreen Ingredients There's an interesting article by Dr.
Jessica Wu on Everyday Health today that talks about some of the misconceptions about sunscreen, and some ingredients you need to look for when shopping for sunscreen this summer.
Here are some highlights from the article, which you can read on Everyday Health's website.
1.
The two most important ingredients when shopping for sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Sunscreens with high amounts of zinc oxide are going to be higher quality and better protectors.
There is a third ingredient that was recently approved by the FDA called Mexoryl.
2.
A big myth about sunscreen is that you get double the protection when you double the SPF.
In fact, SPF 30 is only 4% more protection than SPF 15.
3.
Make sure you apply enough sunscreen to cover the areas exposed.
They recommend a tablespoon for your face (including ears), and a shotglass to cover your body (arms, legs, etc.
).
4.
The last point was fairly obvious, but you should re-apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours, or after swimming or bathing.
This ray will penetrate the epidermis (the top layer of your skin), which has about the same thickness of a silk scarf.
UVB rays stimulate the melanocyte cell to produce more melanin, which is the pigment in our skin.
UVA, often regarded as the "safe" ray, is now known to be even more harmful than UVB rays because UVA rays are the same strength regardless of the time of year.
It doesn't matter how close or how far the sun is; these rays go through clothing, car and office windows and hats.
So, a good sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater with UVA/UVB protection should always be used.
You should apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before going into the sun.
Because sunlight regulates our biological clock and provides essential vitamin D, common sense should be used in determining amount of sun exposure.
As far as laser hair removal is concerned, the amount of your sun exposure plays a part in determining if you qualify for treatment.
So if you are interested in continuing laser treatments this summer, please be sure to avoid the sun as much as you can and use SPF 15 or greater.
Also, be aware of the ingredients of your sunscreens.
The Two Most Important Sunscreen Ingredients There's an interesting article by Dr.
Jessica Wu on Everyday Health today that talks about some of the misconceptions about sunscreen, and some ingredients you need to look for when shopping for sunscreen this summer.
Here are some highlights from the article, which you can read on Everyday Health's website.
1.
The two most important ingredients when shopping for sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Sunscreens with high amounts of zinc oxide are going to be higher quality and better protectors.
There is a third ingredient that was recently approved by the FDA called Mexoryl.
2.
A big myth about sunscreen is that you get double the protection when you double the SPF.
In fact, SPF 30 is only 4% more protection than SPF 15.
3.
Make sure you apply enough sunscreen to cover the areas exposed.
They recommend a tablespoon for your face (including ears), and a shotglass to cover your body (arms, legs, etc.
).
4.
The last point was fairly obvious, but you should re-apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours, or after swimming or bathing.
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