Houston Medical Spa

All About Sunscreen

With spring rapidly approaching and lots of out-door activities taking place, it is important to wear sunscreen. Many people do not understand all of the things to consider when choosing a sunscreen.

The basic thing to keep in mind when choosing a sunscreen is its SPF, or sun protection factor. This is the number on the front of the sunscreen’s bottle that can be as low as a 2 or as high as 60. An SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce sunburn on protected skin to the amount of time to produce sunburn on unprotected skin. Basically, the higher the SPF, the higher sun protection you’re receiving from the sunscreen.

There are two types of rays that a good sunscreen will protect skin from: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays have a middle wavelength and are the rays that damage the lower levels of the skin. UVB rays have a short wavelength and damage the top layer of skin and cause sunburns. UVB rays are at their highest occurrence between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on a daily basis. They are stronger at higher altitudes, during the summer, and in locations closer to the equator. UVA rays always occur.

When choosing a sunscreen, it is useful to know that sunscreens can be divided into 2 groups; chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV radiation while physical sunscreens block UV radiation. Good sunscreens will have a combination of physical and chemical sunscreens in them. Physical sunscreens are good at protecting the skin from both UVA and UVB radiation. The two most common ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

A sunscreen that is really worth buying protects against both UVA and UVB rays. These are called “Broad Spectrum” sunscreens. A good broad spectrum sunscreen contains avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide. When selecting a sunscreen, the SPF rating only tells you how much protection from UVB rays your skin will receive. It does not tell you anything about how much protection from UVA rays you’re receiving. There is not actually a rating system for UVA rays.

Many sunscreens claim to be either water-resistant or water-proof. Water-resistant sunscreens are supposed to retain their protective ability even with 40 minutes in water. Water-proof sunscreens should protect the skin for 80 minutes in water.

Whether you choose a gel, lotion, or cream is up to you. It is important to note that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 on a daily basis, regardless of the season. This is particularly important in states like Florida and Texas as the sun is deadly year-round. In addition, no sunscreen is effective unless it is properly and frequently applied.

If you have skin damage due to the sun and would like to correct the problem, contact the Houston med spa professionals of Dermagenix at 713 662 DERM (3376) to discuss your skin problems and to schedule a corrective procedure.