Happy Summers with Sunscreen

By Dr. Karuna Malhotra

The sun is the ultimate culprit for skin ageing and excessive exposure can weaken the skin’s immunity to the sun and lead to skin cancer. According to WHO, nearly 30 million people in India suffers sun tanning every year; out of which two to three million of them are teenagers. More than 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to skin ageing are caused by the sun.

Using sunscreen lotion or cream is a must factor during summers.  Sunscreen concept was originally created by Austrian scientist Franz Greiter. Sunscreen also commonly known as sunblock, sun tan lotion,  sunburn cream  is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn. 

Taking care of your skin can protect you from the harsh rays especially ultraviolet rays of the sun and lower your risks of developing skin cancer. It doesn't matter if you are male or female; you need photo protection every time you step out in sun.

You may even skip a moisturiser but never a sunscreen. One should use a sunscreen according to their skin types, like gel based for oily skin or a lotion or a thicker texture for dry skin.

Some believe we do not need a sunscreen when indoors even though we are indoors there are UVA rays passing through everything though in lesser amounts, be it your PC or laptop screens or tube lights or windows etc. We should use a SPF 30 sunscreen at least once a day even though indoors.

Sun protection is recommended when the ultraviolet index is 3 and above.. Now the question arises how to choose the right Sunscreen and how to apply it? Here are few tips to choose from:

• One should use a sunscreen according to their skin types, like gel based for oily skin or a lotion or a thicker texture for dry skin.
• The ideal sunscreen should have a high SPF rating more than 30 and be non-toxic, water-resistant properties.
• It is also advisable not to choose a sunscreen based on SPF alone- always consider broad spectrum protection and photo solidity, which means that it won’t break down after exposure to sunlight.
• The chemicals break down over time, sunscreen remains on your skin only for 2 to 3 hours, so you have to reapply. And put it on 10 or 15 minutes before you go outside.
• But if you're out in the sun especially during the peak hours of 10 am to 4 pm, re-apply every two hours.
• Last but not the least, cover up your exposed parts, wear your shades and put on your sunscreen before stepping out this summers.

Have a Happy Summer..!!