Sunscreen 101

Whether you’re jetting off for a beach vacay or simply sweating it out in the scorching city heat, there’s no escaping the sun. And every minute spent outdoors can lead to skin damage due to the harmful ultraviolet (UVA/UVB) rays. Continuous sun exposure can lead to a host of issues ranging from ageing of the skin, to formation of fine lines and spots. Additionally, there’s the chance of sunburn and even skin cancer. Though most of us know sunscreen is an essential, we tend to either use the wrong kind or not enough of it. At times, people skip applying it due to the sticky texture or because they think darker skin tones don’t need it. After Hrs got dermatologists to dispel some common misconceptions...

Application basics

Most people don’t get adequate sun protection because they aren’t applying enough product. Dr Abhijit Desai, Cosmetic Dermatologist, explains, “There’s no point using a sunscreen sparingly. Many tend to use it only on the face and miss the neck or arms. It should also be used 20 minutes prior to exposure. In fact, I always advise people to use it at home too as sunlight comes in through the windows.” Use two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimetre of skin, suggests Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, Director and Consultant dermatologist, Skin Alive clinics. “It is equivalent to a shot glass of product to be applied on the exposed areas of the face and body. Re-apply every two hours, or more often after swimming.”

Choosing the right SPF

All sun protection products whether lotions, creams, or sprays are labelled with a sun protection factor (SPF) and additionally a broad-spectrum protection label. Most people tend to reach for a higher SPF, but does it matter? “There is a considerable difference in SPF15 and 30 but the difference lessens between SPF 30 and 50,” says Dr Apratim Goel, Dermatologist and laser surgeon, Director, Cutis skin studio. “SPF 50 offers 98 per cent protection from UVB rays. Nothing can give 100 per cent sun protection. Sunscreens displaying 100 plus SPF can be misleading. The higher the SPF, the thicker the cream, which may also be comedogenic (clogs your pores, leading to breakouts). Also, note that sunscreen with SPF means protection from only UVB rays. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen protection additionally against the UVA spectrum which is responsible for immediate and persistent pigment darkening reactions makes more sense,” she adds.

Check the expiration date

For a number of people sunscreen is not used year round, and is pulled out of the cabinet just for summer. The danger of this being that the product may be old. Dr Desai confirms, “Typically most sunscreens have around two years of expiry. If not used within that time, the efficacy of the product goes down leading to less protection.” One can also look for changes in the colour and texture of the cream to know when to throw it away.

For all skin tones

There is a misconception that darker skinned men and women don’t need sunscreen. However, people of all skin tones need to be well protected. Dr Goel adds, “Dark skin does have more melanin as compared to lighter skinned people. The in-built excess melanin gives protection against ultraviolet damage enough to obviate an annual skin cancer examination, but not enough to protect the skin from signs of sun damage like tanning, sun-induced wrinkles and freckles.”

New age solutions

Today, there are a number of new sunscreens including oral pills which offer oral photo protection. These need to be used alongwith sun protecting creams. The latest is Instagram-worthy glitter sunscreen that adds some sparkle to the body. Dr Geeta Fazalbhoy, Dermatologist and Founder Skin N You clinic says, “Oral sunscreens work well containing fern block or beta carotene. As for the glitter variety, any sunscreen which is a combination of ideal chemical and physical blocker is effective. Additives like glitter or base colour will not affect the potency of sunscreen but the formula should be stable.”  Dr Chhabra adds, “Glitter is considered generally safe for the skin. However, to be cautious, if you have sensitive skin and notice any irritation, stop using it.”