{"id":1961,"date":"2024-03-30T23:07:05","date_gmt":"2024-03-30T23:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/?p=1961"},"modified":"2024-03-30T23:07:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-30T23:07:07","slug":"how-to-choose-sunscreen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/how-to-choose-sunscreen\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose Sunscreen: Complete Sun Safety Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019re on vacation or lucky enough to live in a place with plenty of sunshine, one of the biggest threats is overexposure to the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with short term inconveniences like sunburn, prolonged and extended exposure to sunlight can do serious damage over time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately 80% of your skin\u2019s aging<\/a> is due to extended exposure. Sun or \u201cage spots\u201d are dark blotches on your skin exacerbated by sunlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melasma is another symptom of too much time in the sun. Although experts aren\u2019t positive what causes these white and grey spots that appear, there is a correlation between time in the sun and their appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are some new methods to reversing or minimizing the damage, it\u2019s not possible for your skin to recover entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Sun Exposure Damages The Skin<\/h2>\n\n\n
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There are three types of UV (ultraviolet) rays transmitted by the sun. The first, UVC doesn\u2019t reach the planet\u2019s surface, but the other two – UVA and UVB – can penetrate your skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious ailment is redness, irritation, and burning skin. But beneath the skin\u2019s outer layer, too much exposure to UV rays can alter your DNA and prematurely age your skin<\/strong>. DNA alterations can eventually result in skin cancer<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How soon you develop a sunburn depends on several factors. Exposure, skin tone, and the intensity of the sun can all contribute. In most situations, the sun is at its most intense levels between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. Your location matters too. Rays can reflect<\/strong> off the surface of water, sand, or snow and magnify, leading to a quicker burn<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While redness and irritation are the most common symptoms of sunburn, severe burns can have more deleterious effects<\/a>. Swelling and blisters are signs of a bad sunburn and in extreme cases, flu-like symptoms can emerge. Fever, chills, nausea, and physical weakness are other signs of critical burns.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you begin to have severe symptoms, consult a health care professional immediately<\/strong>. Chills, excruciating pain, blisters covering more than 20% of the body, or a temperature of more than 102 degrees are all serious symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch for signs of dehydration like dry mouth, extreme thirst, reduced urination, or fatigue. While recovering from your sunburn, minimize the amount of time you spend in the sun as much as possible. Stay in the shade and wear light, loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs to minimize UV rays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, after a few days, the damaged skin starts to peel and itch as your body attempts to remove the skin damaged cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunscreen Ingredients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Look For…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of different active ingredients in sunscreens. Not all countries classify the substance the same and have their own unique methods of approving the chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S for example classifies sunscreen as a drug which leads to a slow approval rate for many. The best sunscreen protects against all UV rays <\/strong>without risk to the user or the environment. But this can be a tall order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of all the compounds, the one that covers the most bases is Mexoryl SX<\/strong>. It\u2019s been proven to be an effective UV absorber<\/a> and is great at preventing sun damage. There have been no side effects found in testing or long last effects. It is not approved for infants under six months<\/strong>, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Europe, one of the most popular ingredients is Tinosorb S&M<\/strong>. It can protect against long and short rays, and is a stabilizer of other sunscreen filters, all while providing antioxidant benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the product has not been approved in the U.S. The F.D.A has cited a lack of information as a justification. At this time, no long term health risks have been connected to the compound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Not all sunscreen compounds are safe for you or the environment<\/a>. In recent years, sunscreen has been linked to coral bleaching and DNA damage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As sunscreen sloughs off the skin and into the water, the concentrated chemicals start to have negative effects on coral<\/a>. Some sunscreen has been found to impair green algae growth and photosynthesis<\/strong> and accelerate coral bleaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage has been traced to animals that inhabit these areas<\/strong>. Fish have shown decreased fertility and dolphins have begun to transfer the chemicals to their young. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some chemicals that have been linked to coral and wildlife damage are zinc oxide, octinoxate, and oxybenzone<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the state of Hawaii has decided to ban the use of oxybenzone and octinoxate<\/a> to protect its coral reef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, some products can cause damage to those with sensitive skin such as oxybenzone. Others like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can leave a white cast on those with olive or dark skin. Titanium dioxide may also be carcinogenic when in powder form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not directly harmful, oxybenzone can irritate those that have sensitive skin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunscreen Ratings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All sunscreen products must list a Sun Protection Factor (SPF), a numerical scale that measures how well the sunscreen shields unprotected skin from sun exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those that pass certain tests may also advertise other protections like protecting against prematurely aging skin and how long it will last in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPF Definitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n