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In preparation for the summer days ahead, it is worthwhile to note the following seven points about sunscreen that will help to protect you and your family from the summer sun:
- 7 teaspoons of sunscreen should be applied to cover your entire body.
- A greater SPF does not mean that less sunscreen needs to be applied or that you can stay in the sun for a longer period of time.
- When choosing a sunscreen, look for the following: a high SPF, broad spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB) and water resistant.
- SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a measure of the performance of a sunscreen, determined by the degree of protection against UVB radiation. SPF30+ provides 97% protection against UVB rays - one thirtieth of the UVB gets through. SPF50+ 98% protection from UVB rays - one fiftieth gets through.
- Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours and after swimming, perspiring or towelling.
- Sunscreen works by reflecting UVR as it reaches the skin and absorbing some UVR at a specific wavelength and converting it into heat energy.
- Along with sunscreen, don’t forget the hats, clothing, sunglasses and try to stay out of the sun’s rays to protect yourself from skin cancer.
An extra tip: don't forget to check the expiry of your sunscreen!