The Science behind Skin Protection! Approaching_03

Now it makes sense why sunscreens have UVA, UVB, or broad spectrum protection. Each type of protection helps protect you from the different types of ultraviolet radiation. Do you know what the different SPF levels, such as SPF 15 and SPF 30, on sunscreens mean? SPF stands for the sun protection factor of each bottle of sunscreen. The SPF level describes how well the sunscreen will protect your skin.

Unprotected skin can take as little as 20 minutes to tan or burn. Tanned or burned skin could be damaged. If you look at the diagram below, you can see that a sunscreen with SPF 15 protects 93 percent of your skin. SPF 30 protects 97 percent of your skin.

You should apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you are exposed to the Sun. This helps the ingredients to stick to your skin. Reapplying sunscreen is also very important. You will want to reapply it every two hours. You should also reapply it again right after swimming, toweling off, or sweating a great deal.

Sunscreen is not the only thing you can do to protect your skin. Nowadays there are other safeguards against the Sun’s rays. You can use rash guards or athletic shirts that protect against the sun. Swimsuits, shirts, and dresses made with special ultraviolet-protective fabrics are also available. You can also wear special makeup made with sunscreen and wear protective hats and sunglasses. Staying in the shade also keeps you out of the Sun’s reach.