Summer skin care: Tips to choose the best sunscreen

Here's everything you want to know about sunscreens.

The summer heat is here in its brutal avatar! There is, of course, blistering heat and a lot of sweat. I3n order to shield your skin from the damage that harmful sun rays can do, it is essential that you apply a good sunscreen on the exposed areas before you step outside. But how do you select a sunscreen? What do terms like SPF, UV-A, UV-B mean? Dr Kiran Lohia, a well-known dermatologist decodes all these terms and other important factors that one should keep in mind before buying a sunscreen.

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What is SPF?

SPF stands for 'sun protection factor'. It protects our skin against UV-B rays, the specific rays of the sun that cause tanning, sunburn and skin cancer. So when you look darker after a day out in the sun, it is due to those pesky UV-B rays.

Technically, an SPF of 15 means that you can stay in the sun 15 times longer than without sunscreen before getting sunburnt.

How much SPF do I need?

A sunscreen with SPF 30 is more than enough to handle the sun rays Indians are exposed to. Even though we are exposed to more UV-B rays than the western countries, our darker skin acts as good, natural protection.

What are the different kinds of sunscreen agents?

There are two types of sunscreen agents organic and mineral.

Organic agents absorb the UV-B light and prevent it from reaching the skin. There are many different ingredients that do this, but they stop working after about 3-4 hours, so the sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly.

Inorganic or mineral agents reflect UV-B light. Sunscreens made of mineral agents can cause the skin to look white by forming a thick layer on it and can be a bit unpleasant to use.

Should I only look for SPF when buying sunscreens?

SPF actually refers only to UV-B protection. However, UV-A protection is also very important. UV-A light causes pigmentation, marks, freckles, aging and even allergy. So it is vital to look for both UV-B and UV-A protection in your sunscreen.

What do I look for in a sunscreen that also has UV-A protection?

For UV-A protection, look for a '+' sign. The PA+ rating denotes UV-A protection, with anywhere from 'zero to ++++' indicating lowest to highest UV-A blocking. For Indian skin, '++' is recommended for optimal protection. So look for a sunscreen with SPF 30++ for both UV-A and UV-B blocking.

What are the benefits of a sunscreen?

There are many benefits of using a sunscreen with both UV-A and UV-B protection. UV-A light is the number one cause of ageing and pigmentation. So regular use of sunscreen will keep your skin glowing and young! UV-B light causes tanning and skin cancer. So UV-B protection is also extremely important.

A regular sunscreen routine will ensure that your skin stays supple, fresh and healthy. It is highly recommended to use a sunscreen in the summer months as your skin is highly prone to sun damage during this time.

Also read: Expert hair care tips for the summers

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