What is the ideal Sun Protection Factor (SPF) that sunscreen should have? What other things about the packaging should I look for when choosing one? What does Water Resistant provide? How do I know that it will protect me from spots and wrinkles? We solve all these doubts and some more so that this year you can choose the best sunscreen for your skin according to the criteria of dermatologists and pharmacists, and you know what basic requirements it must meet.
The sun has many benefits (it puts you in a good mood, relaxes, and provides vitamin D), but if you expose yourself to it for too long and, above all, without adequate protection, it can be your worst enemy. The pharmacist Laura Granados, from the Spirit SkinBar beauty, dermatological and nutritional center, recommends that, in addition to broad protection against all radiation, “it is very important that the sunscreen includes repairers and protectors of cellular DNA.” This does not mean that we need an SPF 90 or 100: “The difference in protection between SPF 50 or 90 is not that great, so to unify criteria, both European and American organizations recommend labeling with 50+ whenever the SPF is higher than this number,” says the pharmacist.
WHAT IS SPF IN SUNSCREEN?
The SPF indicates when you can be exposed to the sun without burning. For example, if, due to your skin type (white), you would burn in 5 minutes, with an SPF of 50+, it would take more than 4 hours to do so (50x 5= 250 minutes). Even so, all dermatologists recommend reapplication of sunscreen after bathing or every 2 hours since we “lose” part of the product through sweat, water, or contact with the towel.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A SUNSCREEN?
When we buy sunscreen, we usually look at the FPS (Sun Protection Factor), which we already know has to be high, but with this, are we already fully protected? According to the AEDV (Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology), FPS protects mainly from UVB rays (those responsible for skin burns), but “for deeper protection on the packaging it should indicate that it protects from UVA – the that cause spots and wrinkles–, and IR-A –which are infrared–, which degrade collagen, causing flaccidity, and which can cause injuries at the cellular level.”
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHYSICAL FILTERS AND CHEMICAL FILTERS?
While physical filters are not absorbed, and the protection works as soon as it is applied (which is why it is ideal for atopic skin or children), protectors with chemical filters absorb the sun’s radiation in the most superficial layer of the skin, preventing it from being absorbed. Damage, but it is convenient to apply them 20 minutes before exposure to the sun so that they are effective.
DO YOU LIVE IN THE CITY AND HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
Suppose you are one of those who spends a lot of time outdoors, but mainly in the city. In that case, you should consider that your sunscreen formula is especially rich in antioxidant ingredients, which protect from solar radiation but also toxic effects, Of pollution. According to a study by the Avène Dermatological Laboratories, 80% of UV rays are received in the city when the skin is less protected. In addition to using sunscreen daily, you should consider excellent care and cosmetics for sensitive skin.
SUNSCREEN FOR ALLERGIES IN SUMMER
According to Inmaculada Cantella, a pharmacist specializing in Dermocosmetics and a member of the SEMCC (Spanish Society of Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery), ” photosensitization and skin allergies skyrocket with good weather , which is why it is important that sunscreens include antioxidants and vitamins , along with sunscreens, that boost the immune system and act against skin aging.”
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