| Choosing the approapriate suncare can be quite a daunting task if you don't have the correct information and advice. What may be right for one skin type, may not be right for another. The first step in choosing a sunscreen is looking at what kind of skin you have. 1. What is SPF (Sun-Protection Factor)?
Taking notice of the SPF of suncare products is very important, it is a numbering system assisgned to sunscreens to assist consumers in selecting the correct sunscreen for their skin type. The higher the number, the greater the protection. The number indicates how much your time spent in the sun can be multiplied before burning. For example if you use an SPF of 2, you can stay in the sun two times longer before burning as you would without protection. This only reflects the products screening ability for UVB rays. There is no FDA-approved rating system that identifies UVA protection.
2. Type of Skin
If you have fair skin it is likely that you will burn rather quickly without sunscreen and that you may still burn if your SPF is not strong enough. SPF 30 should provide sufficient coverage of any skin type, a higher SPF such as SPF 50 will provide slightly more protection than what SPF 30 offers.
Medium skinned people are well suited to use SPF 15 or higher. SPF 30 would offer nearly additional coverage, as long as a medium skinned person reapplies sunscreen regularly and does not spend long periods of time in the sun. Dark skinned people do not need sunscreen to protect their skin. Although freckles and wrinkles may not be immediately evident on dark skin, the skin can become damaged due to over exposure to the sun. Dark skinned people would benefit from SPF8, unless they are in the sun for long periods of time, in which case SPF 15 would be advised.
3. Application
To maximise your skin's protection from damaging sunrays, sunscreen should be reapplied at least every 4 hours and more frequently if you are in the water (water is reflective and going in the water without sunscreen can result in unwanted sun exposure and sunburns). You should apply sunscreen generously to face, nose, neck, hands and feet. These areas generally have the thinnest skin and therefore are more susceptible to damage. Remember don't rub it in! research proves that the traditional method of rubbing sun care products quickly into the skin results in the rapid absorption of lotion. This will leave the outermost layers with far less SPF than you require.
4. Moisturise
It is really important to keep your skin moist and refreshed. The sun can dry skin quickly since the heat removes the water from your pores. After exposure to the sun you should clean your skin with a gentle cleanser and then moisturise with a lotion rich in vitamin e and aloe Vera.
REMEMBER
Protect -Use SPF's appropriate for your skin type, with specific emphasis on those bony thin-skinned places and areas without much previous sun exposure.
On parts of the body with muscle or fat and thicker skin away from the bone promote a safe rate of tanning.
Use a conditioner or rich dehydrator, especially after any significant sun exposure.
| 
