There is a great deal of discussion today about sunscreen. We know only too well that the suns rays can be harmful, at the very least, to give us a burn and, worse, with prolonged exposure, the risk of skin cancer. We look then to “cover up” – and especially we look out for our kids. We want to look for sunscreen products that are effective in protection but, also perhaps today, we are challenged to be more careful about the products we choose – its impact on our health and also whether these products are friendly towards the environment.

 

There are many choices…so what are the issues?

The sun produces both visible and invisible rays. The invisible (short-wave UVA and long-wave UVB) rays cause most of the problems (suntan, sunburn and sun damage). The longer the exposure over time - the worse the effects. Experts say that there is no such think as a “safe” tan.

Different sunscreen/sun block lotions can work in two ways to protect us: chemical or physical. The chemical products work by absorbing UV radiation and converting the harmful rays into harmless ones (but some studies indicate that certain chemicals may give problems once absorbed). Physical protection products use physical compounds such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which act as a layer of covering on the outer layer of skin (like putting on a shirt). Traditional zinc compound treatments may leave a visible white film on the skin which may not be preferable. Newer lotions employ small (micro) particles of zinc and titanium compounds that stay on the skin but still allow the skin to breathe.

And then the strength of the sunscreen - the SPF number, what does it mean? The Sunscreen protection factor (SPF) is a way of ranking sun protection and laboratory pre-testing ranks products to help us choose: the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers. The SPF indicates the time a person with sunscreen applied can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburn relative to the time a person without sunscreen can be exposed. On any day, someone who would burn after 12 minutes in the sun would expect to burn after 120 minutes if protected by a sunscreen with SPF10.

 

But, there are factors that modify the protective effect for each individual, such as: the skin colour of the user, the amount applied and frequency of re-application, activities in which one engages (for example, swimming leads to a loss of sunscreen from the skin), amount of sunscreen the skin has absorbed.

 

Find out what works for you. In the meantime …as you head outside here are some tips:

- Use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and apply it about half an hour before going outdoors

- Reapply the product frequently to get maximum protection

- Wear protective clothing and avoid direct sun in the middle of the day if possible

- Use extra caution near water and sand as they reflect the suns rays and can intensify the effects

- Use UV ray blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes

- Protect your children by playing in the shade, using sunscreen and protective clothing

At Green Cricket we want to help you make good choices. Over the summer we will provide more information on products.

But, we would also like to hear from you…reply to this blog with your experiences and questions.

 

Enjoy your summer!

 

Tags: beach, cottage, lake, sun

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