Sunscreen is top of mind as soon as the weather gets warmer but, truth is, our skin needs protection everyday, year-round, from the sun’s harmful rays…
Recently, I’ve noticed an uptick on social media posts where people are desperately looking for sunscreen recommendations.
The posts are surprisingly similar in their sunscreen must haves….
~ doesn’t cause breakouts…
~ doesn’t have bad stuff in it…
~ doesn’t leave a white film…
~ doesn’t make my kids cry…
And while these are all valid requirements, when it comes to sunscreen, as skincare professionals, we felt compelled to share some important info about sunscreen, selecting the best one for your skin and best practices to get the best results – namely, protecting your skin from cancers & precancers and minimizing premature aging due to sun damage.
Whether the sun is blazing high in the sky…
Or it’s a dreary rainy day…
You never skip the sunscreen. Sun damage is cumulative.
Apply sunscreen daily, even if you are not leaving the house or will have minimal sun exposure. Sunscreen should be applied 20-30 minutes before your skin will be exposed.
According to skincancer.org, regular daily use of SPF 15 can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40% and lower your risk of melanoma by 50%.
DR. PAPA BEST PRACTICE:
A standalone sunscreen or combination product (ie: moisturizer with SPF 15) is acceptable if you’ll be inside all day.
If you are going to the beach or outside working for an extended period of time, look for a minimum SPF 30.
The sun’s has 2 varieties of damaging UV rays…
UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn.
UVA rays are the ones that cause tanning and premature aging.
Our skin needs protection from both. That’s broad spectrum.
The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) tells us how many minutes before the sun’s rays will redden your skin using the product vs not wearing any sunscreen at all. Thus, the longer you will be outside, the higher the SPF…ie: you’ll get SPF 15 means 15 minutes of protection before you start getting red. Regardless, you should be reapplying your sunscreen every 2 hours.
DR. PAPA BEST PRACTICE:
If you will be outside, apply your sunscreen first thing in the morning before you get dressed. Use 1 oz of sunscreen (about the size of your palm) to cover your face and body, for each application/reapplication. Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before leaving the house and reapply every 2 hours.
Be sure to cover any skin that will be exposed, including the easy to miss spots (tops of ears, scalp along the hairline, feet)
We definitely believe that any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen. However, in an ideal world, several factors should be considered when selecting a sunscreen including:
We carry the full line of PCASkin Broad Spectrum SPF products which are formulated by skin type and skin condition while using safe and effective ingredients.
Choose from Active Protection Body, Daily Defense, all broad spectrum with a variety of very water-resistant formulas to protect through contact with sweat & water.
DR PAPA BEST PRACTICE:
When in doubt…Consult a professional. As a new client at Revitalize Aesthetics, Dr. Papa will do a full skin consultation and recommend treatments and products to deliver the very best results for your skin. As a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), she is trained to look at the whole picture including medical history and medications that could potentially impact the sun’s effects on your skin as well as desired outcomes.
The estheticians & skincare professionals at Revitalize Aesthetics, Ardmore, PA based med spa have a wide variety of professional skin care products to keep your skin healthy from the sun as well as other environmental factors that cause damage to our skin and premature aging.
The skincare professionals at Revitalize Aesthetics are here to help, serving the Main Line & beyond!
Call our Ardmore, PA office at 484-413-2011 to schedule your appointment for a skin care consultation & product recommendation customized for your skin.