Firstly, the basics. There are 3 types of UV rays.
UVA- Are better known as the Aging rays. It penetrates to your dermis. In the dermis is where all of our Collagen, Elastin, blood vessels, nerve endings and ground substances (Glyco amino glycans) are. They form a network that holds our skin up. When they are attacked and broken down wrinkles occur thus prematurely aging.
UVB - Are known as the Burn rays. UVB rays cause a much greater risk of skin cancer than UVA. Long-term exposure can cause skin cancer and even affect your immune system. They only penetrate to the epidermal layer of our skin. In here you find what we call Melanocytes. The UV stimulates these and this is how you get a tan. Along with this tan you will receive sunburn, skin ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer. *Thumbs up*
UVC - rays are the strongest rays and the most dangerous, however the ozone layer filters these rays and they don’t generally reach the Earth’s surface. However! There is a nice hole in the ozone layer. Below in the facts I have put together, explains this danger a bit more.
Facts to know about the Sun and Sunscreens:
SPF’s, they have Expiry dates. Most are good for 2 years from packaging. All sunscreens legally have to have this expiry date. It’s generally found on the crease of tubes or under the bottom in bottles. Make sure you take note when purchasing and remember to check when you have had it for a while.
Sunscreens should be put on at least 20 minutes PRIOR to sun exposure. All too often I see people putting SPF on while sitting on the beach. It is too late then you will have already had damage. On average it takes 3 minutes to receive UV damage on unprotected skin.
The ozone layer that usually helps block harmful UVC (cancer causing rays) as we all know has a hole in it. This hole usually sits over Antarctica. However in our summer months it moves and positions itself over Australia. Lucky us! This is why it is so important to wear SPF protection EVERYDAY. Also the reason why we are also told to stay out of the sun between 10am -2pm. (11am-3pm if you’re in daylight savings).
Even on a cloudy day you can get sunburn. Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can penetrate through fog, mist or light cloud cover. You can also get sunburn in the water. The Surface of water can reflect an extra 5% of the sun’s rays back at you. This is added on top of what you are already receiving. Snow is the sneakiest; it reflects the sun like a mirror, reflecting up to 95% of its rays!
There has been research to show that even one, severe sunburn in your childhood can increase the risk of melanoma or other skin cancers later in life. Generally the Sun damage you see later on in life has already occurred before you turned 18! So Parents take note! SLIP, SLOP, SLAP your kids!!
Types of Sunscreens!
There are two main types. Physical sunscreens and Chemical Sunscreen.
Physical Sunscreens are very important to wear especially on your face. They create a barrier on your skin and deflect the UV rays. Physical sunscreens can be recognised by looking at the active ingredients on the container. Look for Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide.
Chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays, neutralize them and then deflect them back off your skin. These are most commonly used as body sunscreens. Through absorbing the UV rays it stimulates your Melanocytes, which results in a tan. So you CAN tan with sunscreens on and if you feel you must sun tan, then using a chemical SPF at least I highly recommend!
Try and get a Sunscreen that is SPF 30, broad spectrum and water-resistant. This will give you the longest protection. Also make sure you buy one here in Australia. Our sunscreens go through vigorous testing and there are many laws in place so they are the highest grade and suitable for our sun. I know overseas they have SPF factors that are higher than 30. But here in Australia again our laws prevent us from advertising higher than 30. Plus those sunscreens converted to our Australian sun would be probably around 17SPF.
You may notice that sometimes if you’re in the sun ALL day even if you reapply your sunscreen you still get burnt? This is because you have run out of Sun time and no matter what your skin can’t protect itself any longer. On average a SPF30 will give you 300mins in the sun. Once this is up you need to GET OUT of the sun because you will burn! Our natural MED takes a full 24hrs to rebuild itself, so if you sunbake on consecutive days, you may find you will burn faster the next day as it hasn’t had time to reset itself yet.
I’ve heard so many lame excuses as to why people won’t use Sunscreen. The most annoying being:
- ” I don’t like the chemicals in sunscreens”.
- “I don’t like the feel, they make me break out.”
There are so many different sunscreens out there now that everyone will find one that suits them. Many mineral or oil free sunscreens are light in texture and don’t clog your skin. You just have to go in search.
- “I work indoors so I’m not in the sun”.
To which my first question back is “how do you get to work?” usually the answer is via a car, bus or train. You get damage while being in these forms of transports. The sun comes through your windows and inflicts damage. Tinting on cars can filter slightly but the front window of a car is never tinted. A lot of people have cancers burnt off their hands and sides of face due to this.
Solariums: my opinion if you still use one you need to wake up and stop being so vein! There are so many warnings out there and they aren’t just there to lecture you they really are BAD! It exposures you to UV radiation that is up to 5 times stronger than the midday sun! Don’t’ believe these Vitamin D stories they tell you. Driving in your car gives you the entire Vitamin D intake you need on a daily basis. You don’t need to die for beauty!
Of course I’m going to recommend that you just fake tan! It’s the safest way possible!! There are heaps and heaps out there now too! No excuse of going orange! Even if you just go brown and don’t burn, the change in colour of your skin (i.e. your tan) means that damage has occurred. Once your tan fades you have no colour but guess what! That damage stays with you for life! Think about all this information before you think about going and lying in the sun for hours!
There is so much more info I could tell you all. I truly am a Sunscreen junkie! I have so many different types! I have seen the effects of what years in the sun does to you. My beautiful, amazing mother has had a melanoma cut out of her arm, leaving her with a huge scar. She has also had many treatments on her face to bring out all the hundreds of little Basal cell carcinoma’s that have formed. Burning these off is generally the treatment they go for. It doesn’t look very pleasant. So you make the call! Wear Sunscreen EVERYDAY! I will also suggest you go get your body checked once a year at least; to make sure you don’t have any nasty’s you should be keeping an eye on!
Remember: A tan isn’t worth dying over!
SJ x
