Learn how to read the list of ingredients on a sunscreen bottle with experts tips and advice from dermatologists.
Heres where to start.
UVA rays are the rays that penetrate deeper, says Dr. Jaliman.
They are the principal reason we turn red and burn, though a touch of UVA causes this too.
At that point though, we had not yet introduced a standardized form of testing for that protection.
So if you have a sunscreen that doesnt say broad-spectrum, youre only getting UVB protection.
board-certified dermatologist
Youll be protected from burns but not long-term damage that can cause skin cancer and accelerate signs of aging.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, saysLindsey Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Pennsylvania.
Dermatologists recommend that you use sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30.
Theres a slight difference when you go from a 50 to 100.
It isnt as much as you would think.
For many, wearing more than SPF over 30 isnt really necessary.
It also may depend on where you live and what you do.
Thats because if you dont put on enough sunscreen, youre actually not getting the SPF on the label.
PA++++
The PA system stands for the Protection Grade of UVA.
board-certified dermatologist
So its like SPF but for UVA rays.
It wasdeveloped in Japan in 1996, and has since been adopted by other countries.
Its based on PPD, persistent pigment darkening.
The plus signs next to PA denote how much UVA protection the sunscreen provides.
PA+ offers some UVA protection.
PA++ offers moderate UVA protection.
PA+++ offers high UVA protection.
And PA++++ is extremely high UVA protection.
Chemical
Common chemical blockers include avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, and oxybenzone.
Chemical sunscreens are a bit controversial.
From there, it can remain in the body for an extended period of time.
The agency is doing more research to determine if lingering sunscreen chemicals have any impact on health.
The chemicals, I have to say, they work really well, she says.
If you have avobenzone, any of those, its going to protect your skin.
Thats why they use them because they do protect your skin very well.
Mineral
Mineral sunscreens use two physical blockers: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Its generally accepted that what sets mineral sunscreens apart from chemical is thatthey reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it.
However,a 2015 studyshows that physical blockers also work by absorbing UV rays.
Visible light is quite literally the light you could see.
(UV rays are invisible to the human eye.)
Thats why I still love mineral sunscreens so much, even with more and more great chemical sunscreen options.
Water-resistant
If youre going to be spending time in the water, you need water-resistant sunscreen.
Just know that you better check the label to see how often you better reapply if in water.
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