The sun is (finally) coming out, which means aside from enjoying the beach and the park, it’s also time to buy more sunscreen. But buying sunscreen is a lot more complicated than just picking an SPF. While many sunblocks protect against UVB rays, there’s no guarantee that they’ll shield your skin from UVA.
An article from MSNBC reports: “Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet B rays, which are stronger at midday and in the summer. However, UVA rays can penetrate glass and are the same strength all year, all day long. Both types of rays contribute to wrinkling, freckling, hyper-pigmentation and skin cancer.”
SPF is a misleading measure, since it only measures protection against UVB. So how do you choose the right sunscreen?
There are two categories of sunblock: physical blockers, which deflect sunlight and protect against both types, and chemical blockers, which absorb sunlight and vary in their protection. The former of the two is preferred, but tend to leave a white film on your skin, so you’re trading comfort/appearances for protection against skin cancer. Seems like fair trade off to me. For specific brand recommendations, check the Environmental Working Group’s list of best sunscreens.
How judicious are you about picking sunscreen?
Full story at MSNBC. Photo by tread.
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i say you should try to cover up and stay out of the brightest sun. kids especially.
I try to always buy eco-friendly everything, including sunscreen, but that can be really pricey. What I do more than anything is to stay in the shade if I have to be out in the mid-day sun, but really try to do my outdoor things in the mornings and evenings when the sun is not dangerous and you just get some nice vitamin D!
thanks so much for posting this. I did not know there were different types of sunscreen and have always just reached for SPF 15 Hawaiian Tropic without really thinking because I like the way it smells. Going to research a bit more now!
I never found the one that I like. It is either greasy or smells bad or with a low spf… sigh
Yeah, it seems like there's no way to win. But I'd rather be greasy and smell bad and be protected from both types of UV rays!
I hope I'm buying a good sunscreen for me and my kids…
I'm very certain to get a sunscreen that promises both UVB and UVA coverage-mainly the neutrogena stuff with helioplex.
I always try to make sure I get uva/uvb sunscreen. I prefer one with zinc dioxide, as my skin is allergic to chemical sunscreens.
Now I'm reading that the sunscreen has chemicals in it that is harmful. Ughhhhhh…
I just won a set of wonderful bath and skin products from Epensical natural and organic solutions. One of them was a tube of Sunscreen that is healthy and no chemicals.
Sounds really scary; if the sun doesn't hurt you the chemicals in the sunscreen itself, will!
I know the higher the number, the stronger it will be against UltraViolet rays…right? Either way, we all need sunshine for the vital vitamin source.
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