Sun worship without the worry

There is no denying that the summer season is officially here. Young and old alike are making plans to hie off to the beach or a resort for some much-needed R & R.

Uptown/Downtown gives its readers a few tips on how to safely have fun under the sun.

1. If you are anticipating being in the outdoors (regardless of whether skies are clear or overcast), make sure to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before your activity. Your sunblock needs this amount of time for the SPF to kick in.

2. How much sunblock should a person put on? Dermatologists often advise to apply the equivalent of one shot glass all over one’s body and a the equivalent of a teaspoon for the face. If you are using a liquid sunscreen spray, make sure to have sprayed continuously over your body for between 60 and 90 seconds.

3. There are two types of ultraviolet rays that cause damage to the skin: UVA and UVB. UVB rays affect the surface of the skin (the epidermis) and are responsible for sunburn. UVA rays, however, are much more damaging as they permeate deeper into the skin layers. UVA rays cause wrinkling, loss of elasticity and premature aging to the skin. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer so it is wise to protect one’s self against both. Remember: UVA = aging, UVB = burning. Make sure that your sunblock does not only have a high SPF factor but also offers formidable protection against UVA and UVB rays.

4. Never rely on makeup to protect you from the sun. Nowadays, foundations and concealers boast high SPF properties. Do not believe the hype. Rely only on dedicated sunscreens for sun protection.

5. Do not be dazzled by sunscreens with very high SPFs. The Food and Drug Authority of the US has recently ruled that the maximum SPF on a sunscreen label is SPF 50+. According to Dr. Vicki Belo, “The SPF protection that you get over SPF 50 is so minimal to be considered effective.”

6. Avoid the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the rays of the sun are at their most intense.

7. Make sure to look for the words “broad spectrum” when buying a sunscreen. The term “broad spectrum” means that the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. Reapply every hour if you are sweating or in contact with water.

9. Covering up with a wide brimmed hat or a long sleeved shirt provides added protection against the sun. Darker clothes give more protection. White cotton shirts have the equivalent of SPF 7, colored clothes offer a protection of about SPF 10. Denim pants offer a protection of about SPF 50.

10. There are two types of sunscreen: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens protect against UV rays by deflecting or blocking the sun’s rays. The active ingredients in physical sunscreens are titanium and zinc oxide. Try to get a sunscreen with zinc oxide as it protects against the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays while titanium oxide protects against UVB rays but not the entire spectrum of UVA rays. Physical barriers usually leave a white cast on the skin and require more frequent reapplication. Chemical sunblocks work by absorbing the sun’s UV rays. Active ingredients in chemical sunscreens may include octylcrylene, avobenzone, octinoxate and helioplex.