If you are confused by the endless array of sunscreens, join the crowd.
Although there are hundreds of different products, you only need to remember five points while choosing a sunscreen.The first thing to consider is SPF, or sun protection factor. Choose a product with SPF 15 or higher. Anything less is inadequate for most skin types.
Low SPF numbers don't protect most people for long. To find out how long a product will protect you, multiply the SPF number by the amount of time it takes for you to get a sunburn. For example, you take 10 minutes to burn and you plan to wear lotion with SPF 4. Ten times 4 equals 40 minutes. That means you will need to reapply the lotion after only 40 minutes, to avoid a burn. Even a tan is a sign of skin damage. It's much easier just to use a product with SPF 15 or higher.
The second tip is to choose a "broad spectrum" sunscreen, one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
Sunlight contains ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays. UVB rays have been implicated in skin cancer. Most sunscreens block UVB. UVA rays may cause skin cancer and aging, including wrinkles. Not all sunscreens protect you from UVA rays, although products with an SPF of 15 or higher typically offer some protection.
Look for the words "broad spectrum" on the label for protection from both UVA and UVB. If you want to get more specific, read the list of ingredients and look for at least two of the five families of sun block chemicals: PABA, benzophenones, salicylates, cinnamates and anthranilates.
PABA is the best UVB blocker around, but unfortunately, 7 percent of people are allergic to it. After applying PABA and spending 15 minutes in the sun, they feel a stinging, "pins and needles" sensation. Many good PABA-free products are available.
Ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and iron chelators are also helpful but only in combination with a high SPF sun-screen.
Zinc oxide - that white stuff lifeguards wear on their noses - and its transparent cousin, titanium dioxide, are true sun blocks. They block out all light. Unfortunately, these sun blocks are not absorbed into the skin and may be easily washed off by sweat or water. The exceptions are products specially formatted for athletes, such as Sportz Bloc with titanium dioxide.
The third quality to look for in a sunscreen is a gel base. Although the skin does not absorb gel-based products as quickly as oil-based ones, gels have many advantages. Oil-based sunscreens may leave an oil residue in the pool and also cause acne, while gels do not.
Fourth, look for fragrance-free products. Strong scents, particularly sweet smelling products, may attract bugs.
Fifth, try to find a waterproof product. No sunscreens are truly waterproof, but law requires them to protect skin for 80 minutes in the pool or ocean if they say "waterproof" on the label.
Remember to reapply your sunscreen often. It takes 1 ounce of lotion to protect the entire body. Most sunscreens take 15 or 20 minutes to begin working, so put them on in your hotel room or car, before you go outside.
One in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes. Skin cancers are easier to prevent than other cancers, and sunscreen can allow you to have fun in the sun with less risk.