Don’t Skip The Most Important Skin Care Step This Summer!

Sunscreen lotion in sun shape on tanned woman’s shoulder.

Summer is officially here! It’s essential now more than ever to apply a daily SPF to your face and body. Recent studies show that only 42.6% of American women and 18.81% of American men regularly use sunscreen on their faces despite SPF being an easy way to reduce the chances of skin cancer and premature aging (American Academy of Dermatology).

Daily protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays is crucial to your skin’s health.

According to cdc.gov, Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. While it has some benefits for people, including the creation of Vitamin D, it also can cause health risks.

Here are some Sun Skin Care Facts

90% of visible signs of aging are due to sun damage

Up to 20% of the sun’s harmful rays can penetrate your skin, even on a cloudy day

Apply to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors. Use sunscreen year-round, sunny or cloudy.

10am – 2pm is when the sun’s rays are the strongest

1 ounce of sunscreen is recommended when in a swimsuit or minimally dressed

Use caution near water, snow & sand: they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn

What do the numbers mean?

SPF stands for sun protection factor. Sunscreens are classified by an SPF number. The number refers to their ability to deflect UV rays.

The SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to burn sunscreen-protected skin vs. unprotected skin.

Use a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher to protect not only against sunburn but reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging caused by the sun. (Excerpt from Coola.com)