According to the report of American Cancer Society, above 1 million cases of skin cancer had been diagnosed which could have been avoided by adopting proper sun preventive behaviour.
Sun rays are the major cause of skin diseases and damage leading to skin cancer. To prevent this, proper application of the sunscreen holds pivotal importance but effective skin coverage needs extra efforts than only applying some sunscreen lotion before going on the beach.
Tips for keeping your skin burn free and healthy
By following these useful tips, you can save your skin from the potential damage caused by the dangerous UV rays of the sun and keep it healthy.
• Use sunscreen even when you remain indoors: Most of the people have the false perception that staying indoors save them from the effects of the dangerous sun rays and they do not need sunscreen. This is wrong! The UVA rays of the sun even penetrate through the windows and affect your immune system resulting in a formation of wrinkles and age spots. So apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher even when you are staying indoors.
• Apply sunscreen on all the exposed parts of your body: Applying sunscreen on your face is not enough to save your skin from sun rays. It is very important that you apply sunscreen on the exposed areas of the body including your hands, arms, lips, décolletage and ears. These areas are highly vulnerable to sun damage, quickly show the ageing signs and can develop melanomas (cancer tumour).
• Water-resistant sunscreens are not water proof as claimed: the sunscreens claiming to be water-resistant or waterproof wear off after 20-30 minutes spend in water or if you sweat excessively. They also wear off when you rub a towel on your skin after swimming so does not be fooled by such claims. Reapply sunscreen after 30 minutes of swimming or bathing.
• Make SPF sunscreen 30 or higher a vital component of your skin care regime: whether the day is sunny or it the sky is filled with dark clouds, make a good SPF 30 or higher an essential part of your skincare regimen because even on a cloudy day, the 80% of UV sun rays can pass through the clouds.
• Apply sunscreens at least 15 minutes before going outdoors: The sunscreens need to be absorbed fully into your skin for optimum protection. Therefore, apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you leave for outdoors.
• Check the ingredients list and choose broad spectrum sunscreen: Always check the ingredients list of the sunscreens before buying. Look for the sunscreens having zinc oxide for providing UVA protection, PABA derivatives, salicylates or cinnamates for UVB protection and benzophenones (oxybenzone and sulisobenzone) for providing shorter UVA wavelength protection. Also, ensure that the sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB radiations.
• Avoid going out during the mid-day: Between 10 am and 4pm, the rays of the sun are strongest so try to avoid direct exposure to the sun rays during this time period.
• If your skin is sunburned do not panic, seek help: Do not be panicked, if you have the sunburn. The sunburned skin can be treated by using cooling moisturisers, OTC hydrocortisone creams, cooling baths etc. However, if you feel chilly or have the fever or a headache then you might also suffer from a heat stroke. In such a case, seek immediate medical help.
• Do not rely on sunscreen alone: Sole application of sunscreen does not mean that you are completely protected from the dangerous sun rays. Also, pair it with the sun protective clothing and accessories. There are numerous brands that use special fabrics which provide sun protection. Additionally, wear lightweight, loose and long sleeved clothing along with wide-brimmed hats, gloves and sunglasses for complete sun protection.
Thus, it is easy to protect yourself from the harmful sun rays and keep your skin healthy and glowing even in the scorching summer heat by making few changes in your skin care behaviour.
