1. How
do sunscreens work? Sunscreen products are
formulated to provide various levels of protection
from UVA, UVB, and IR rays. These products contain
ingredients which absorb or block and scatter
UV rays. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) was established
by the Food and Drug Administration to measure
how much protection from UVB rays the product
will provide. Sunscreens are available in many
forms including ointments, creams, lotions, and
even wax sticks.
2.
Who needs to use sunscreen?
Everyone! To choose the right sunscreen for you,
take a look at our SPF
Chart.
3.
How much sunscreen should be used? How often
should it be applied? When applying sunscreen,
make sure you apply it evenly and generously
to
all exposed areas of the skin. Adults should
use about one fluid once per body application.
Reapply
often, as swimming, toweling off and perspiration
can diminish sunscreen’s effectiveness.
Every two hours is a good rule of thumb.
4.
What is the difference between UVA and UVB wavelengths? The sun’s rays consist
of two types of harmful rays, UVA and UVB. UVB
rays are the sun’s burning rays and are
the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer.
UVA rays penetrate the base layer of the skin
and can also cause sunburn and skin cancer.
Both
UVA and UVB rays can cause suppression of the
immune system, which reduces its ability to
protect you from the
development and spread of skin cancer.
5.
What is an SPF? The Food and Drug Administration
developed the Sun Protection Factor or SPF to
serve as a classification system. SPF numbers
range from 2 to greater than 50. The SPF rating
is calculated by comparing the amount of
time it takes to produce a sunburn on unprotected
skin vs. the amount of time
needed to produce a sunburn on skin that is
protected
using sunscreen. The
SPF number serves as a multiplier, allowing a
person to prolong their exposure to the sun.
For
example if it took a person with unprotected
skin 10 minutes to burn, using a sunscreen with
a SPF
of 15 would allow the person to multiply that
initial burning time by 15, meaning one could
remain
in the sun for 150 minutes before burning. To
choose the right sunscreen for you, take a look
at our SPF
Chart.
6.
How do I know what SPF is right for me? Choosing the
right SPF is important and you should
always keep in mind your intended
time in the sun and your skin type.
To choose the right sunscreen for
you, take a look at our SPF
Chart.
7.
Does SPF 30 offer twice the protection of SPF
15? The protection level offered
in sunscreen products does not increase proportionately
with the product's designated SPF number. For
more on what SPFs are, see What is an SPF?
8.
Does the SPF tell me how well I am protected
from both UVA and UVB rays? Unfortunately, the SPF
number displayed only provides an indication of
the level of protection offered for UVB rays.
At the present time, there is no Food and Drug
Administration rating system to identify the level
of protection for UVA rays.
9.
How should I treat sunburn? Sunburns can be painful
and dangerous. Since it may take over 24 hours
for a sunburn to appear, it is important to moisturize
after exposure to the sun. Choose an after-sun
product such as South Beach Sun’s
Lidocaine Medicated Lotion.
10.
What are some of the warning signs of skin cancer? Signs to watch for the
following:
• A growth or spot that continues to hurt, itch,
crust, scab, or bleed.
• Open sore or wound on your skin that does not
heal for more than 4 weeks, or re-opens after it has healed.
• A mole, birthmark
or beauty mark that increases in size, changes
color or texture.
11.
What causes sunburn? UV rays emitted from the
sun travel to the earth in the form of wavelengths.
These very small wavelengths contain large amounts
of energy that penetrate human flesh, changing
the structure of our skin cells. Individuals with
darker skin have skin cells containing more melanin,
meaning they have more natural protection from
the sun’s UV rays.
12.
What is the UV index? The UV Index is a next
day forecast of the amount of skin-damaging
UV
radiation expected to reach the earth's surface.
The amount of UV radiation reaching the surface
is related to the elevation of the sun in the
sky, the amount of cloud cover present, and
the
amount of ozone in the stratosphere. The UV Index
can range from 0 at night to 15 or 16 mostly
in
tropical and subtropical areas. Areas of high
elevation under clear skies can also have UV
indexes
that approach these high levels. The higher the
UV Index the greater the risk of skin damaging
UV radiation. The higher the UV Index, the less
time it takes before skin damage occurs. Click
here to find out what the UV index is in
your area.
