Skin care in summer: We all know how important it is to apply sunscreen before stepping outside, but did you know that doing so indoors is just as important, if not more so? Or that you should be reapplying sunscreen every two hours? We consulted an expert to learn the facts about sunscreen, including when to use it, how much to put on, and how long to leave it on. This is because the clear guidelines for UV protection are sometimes misunderstood.
Zee English spoke to Dr. Rohit Batra, Dermatologist, Dermaworld Skin & Hair Clinic, New Delhi about skin’s protective barrier in summers- sunscreen, skin type and much more.
Sunscreen protects and prevents your skin from premature ageing, skin cancer, pigmentation and sunburn. But, there is a lot of hype about the SPF of sunscreens. Dr Rohit clarifies, “SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF simply indicates the level of protection against the sun’s ultraviolet B rays, also known as UVB.”
Is Higher SPF Better During Hot Weather?
“If you go to a supermarket, you’ll see a plethora of sunscreens that range from SPF 30+ to SPF 50+, and so on… most of these sunscreens are giving you protection from UVB. UVB sunlight. is that spectrum of which causes skin cancer. etc which is not very common in India. So for Indian population, any sunscreen between spf 20 to 50 is good enough. So, if you go for spf 20-30 plus It’s good if you use K sunscreen, and if you have something 50+ it’s great,” says Dr. Rohit.
For the Indian population, your sunscreen should have UVA protection. UVA will protect your skin from tanning. So look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that offers both UVB and UVA protection. Just as there is an SPF for UVB protection, you have a boot-star rating for UVA protection, and a sunscreen with a boot-star rating of 4 to 5 is considered a good UVA protector.
When to apply sunscreen?
“If it’s light, you need sunscreen. For those who spend most of their time in front of mobile, laptop and TV screens, it is highly recommended to apply sunscreen. So, to protect the skin, use sunscreen that contains Infrared protection and visible light protection. So if your sunscreen has UVA, UVB and IR protection, it’s best for you,” says an expert dermatologist on what is the right time to apply sunscreen to protect the skin. Are.
Sunscreen needs to be reapplied frequently during the day and on a daily basis. Hence, sunscreen should be a product that suits and protects your skin. Sunscreen protects your skin from tanning and ageing, as well as retaining the necessary moisture to prevent freckles.
How to apply sunscreen?
Dermatologists recommend, “If you are going out, apply a teaspoon of sunscreen on your face 30 minutes before you step out (or use sunscreen in the amount of 50 or a Re 1 coin) and reapply it every two hours.” Reapply.”
There is no need to wash your face every time you apply sunscreen. When you are out you can apply a second layer over and over without washing it off. So, be sure to choose a sunscreen that is suitable for your skin type, provides complete protection, and is also reasonably priced.
There are a large number of sunscreens available in the market today with traditional sunscreens (cream based), sticks, sprays and lotions or tinted or colorless products.
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How to choose between stick vs spray vs lotion sunscreen?
Stick sunscreen is good for small areas like under eyes, cheeks, nose etc. Whereas, spray sunscreen is convenient to use on those parts of the body like shoulders, back etc., where your hands cannot reach easily. Of course, stick and spray sunscreens are convenient to use, unlike lotions which can be messy and difficult to apply. But with sprays and sticks, you cannot calculate the amount of sunscreen used.
As mentioned earlier, applying a teaspoonful of sunscreen on the face can provide better protection from the sun’s rays. It doesn’t matter how expensive your sunscreen is or how high the SPF is, if the coverage and quantity is not adequate or proper, the sunscreen will not serve its purpose i.e. protecting and preventing the skin from harmful rays of the sun or any other form of sun. . Of light So, applying it correctly and adequately is the key!
Dr Rohit explains the difference between using tinted vs untinted sunscreen for Indian skin type and how a tinted sunscreen can be more beneficial. “Talking about tinted SPF, it contains iron oxide which makes it more effective than untinted SPF as it blocks both UV and blue light. Additionally, tinted sunscreens can be used in place of foundation. Can be worn, to achieve a natural looking glow without the need to wear a lot of makeup. And since it comes in a variety of shades, you can match it to your skin tone without worrying about white streaks, they say.
How to choose the right sunscreen?
Make sure you choose a sunscreen base according to your skin type. Those with dry skin should choose a sunscreen that is cream or lotion-based, and gel-based sunscreens are recommended for those with oily or acne-prone skin because they are non-comedogenic.
However, people forget to protect their lips and hence one must use lip balm with SPF for better protection of the skin from the harmful rays of the sun.