Sunscreen is one of the important basics for every woman in the summer to avoid sun damage to the skin. Undoubtedly, you realize the importance of using it, but do you have a problem choosing the right type for you? Here is this article to learn more about sunscreen and the best way to choose it.

  What is sunscreen?

Sunblock is a product that contains several ingredients that help prevent ultraviolet rays from reaching your skin, and there are two types of ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) that cause skin damage, early signs of aging, and increase the likelihood of skin cancer.

Ultraviolet B rays are the main cause of sunburn, and type A penetrates the skin deeper and causes wrinkles and signs of aging, and types of sunscreen vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays.

What is a sun protection factor SPF?

Is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to protect against UVB rays, as most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 and above protect the skin excellently from UVB.

So what does SPF equal to 15 mean?

If the time it takes for skin not protected by sunscreen to cause redness caused by exposure to the sun is 20 minutes, then applying SPF 15 sunscreen will theoretically multiply this time 15 times, which is equivalent to 5 hours. In other words, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. Obviously, no sunscreen can offer complete protection, and there is no No matter how strong it is, it can last for more than two hours without reapplying to the skin.

Steps for choosing a sunscreen

1-    Choose a sun protection factor SPF 15 or more:

The sun protection factor does not represent the number of hours you can spend in the sun without damage as we explained before, and you must reapply the cream every two hours even on cloudy days and After swimming or sweating.

2-    Choose broad-spectrum protection:

SPF represents protection from UVB rays, so be sure to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that also protects you from UVA rays and make sure that the product provides protection for both UVA. As protection from UVA is very important, as this type of rays penetrate deeply into the skin and cause wrinkles, in addition to that both types increase the risk of skin cancer.

3-    Water-resistant:

 Of course, all types of sunscreen can be removed with water or even when sweating. There is no water-resistant sunscreen, but it can be water-resistant, which means that it lasts longer if exposed to water, and of course like most sunscreens, you'll need to reapply this type every two hours and after swimming or sweating.

4-    Choose the type you prefer.

There are many options for sunscreen, ranging from cream, gel, and spray, and there is no big difference between them. In the end, the difference is personal preference, so choose the type that you prefer to use.