If there’s one product you NEED to use every day for happy and healthy skin, it’s sunblock. It’s actually crazy that 90% of how your skin ages is completely within your control and it’s directly related to sun exposure. Most of us think we only need to wear sunscreen to stop our skin from burning, so we only apply it when we’re tanning or on vacay – this is NOT true. The New England Journal of Medicine recently published this portrait of a 69-year-old truck driver, which due to the nature of his job, meant that only one side of his face was consistently exposed to the sun. The difference is dramatic, and it shows just how strong the impact of the sun can be.
His 28 years of being a truck driver (and not wearing sunscreen) meant that only one side of his face was exposed to the UVA rays that transmitted through the truck window – the damage is shown in skin thickening, deep wrinkles, and sagging skin to his left side. This demonstrates exactly how your skin could age with and without sunblock. If this isn’t enough to make you want to start wearing sunblock regularly, we’re not sure what will.
So, because there’re so many myths around using suncream, and because it’s SO important to use it correctly, we got together with Dr. Friedmann from the London Dermatology Clinic, one of the leading dermatology centers in the world, for his advice. Here’s the full DL on how you need to use sunblock and what to look for.
How does sunblock work?
By using sunblock, you’ll be able to better protect your skin from the powerful UV rays of the sun. What a lot of people don’t realize, is there are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB, and you need to make sure you’re protected from both. Here’s how they differ:
UVB: UVB rays are directly responsible for sunburn, skin discoloration, redness, and UVB radiation, and they also contribute to skin cancer. SPF (sun protection factor) helps you block the UVB rays, and the higher the SPF, the stronger the protection will be. Friedmann explained that in general “an SPF 50 means for every 50 minutes in the sun, you’ll get the equivalent of one-minute unprotected sun exposure.”
UVA: UVA rays are considered more dangerous than UVB as they penetrate more deeply, although when you’re in the sun you can’t actually feel them burning your skin. It’s these rays that are the main cause of long-term skin damage, like fine lines and wrinkles and the destruction of collagen that leads to skin sagging – it also causes certain types of skin cancer. UVA rays are the dominant tanning ray (even when you’re in a tanning booth), and can pass through glass and clouds. So, when you look for sun protection make sure it has a 4-5 star UVA rating because SPF doesn’t protect you from UVA rays.
Dr. Friedmann recommends that you should always use “SPF 30 as a minimum”, with “at least a 4-star UVA rating”. Although, he does also note that if you have a richer skin tone, for example, if you’re, “Mediterranean or Middle Eastern a lower SPF is okay, although a dermatologist will always advise a higher factor such as SPF 50 with UVA blockers.”
How should you apply sunblock?
On a daily basis…
Whether you’re going to the beach or you just have to commute to work, you should apply sunscreen to your face, ears, and neck every morning. When you’re spending the entire day in the sun, Dr. Friedmann told us you should, “reapply your sunscreen every two hours as a minimum, as you normally apply a lot less than is done during lab testing – which means an SPF 30 will sometimes only offer you SPF 15.” This is why a lot of people get sunburnt even when they’re protected, as their sunscreen is only having half the impact it could. So not only do you need to top up every two hours but he also recommends you should “apply a finger sized squirt for an area of the skin the size of your hand,” to ensure you’re using enough product.
Use sunblock before going in the sun…
You should always apply sunblock 20 minutes before you expose your skin to the sun, as it takes that amount of time for it to be absorbed.
Don’t just rely on your foundation…
Dr. Friedmann appreciates that “a lot of foundations, moisturizers, and primers contain at least SPF15, which is probably enough protection during the winter months”. However, in the summer, always accompany your cake face with a high SPF sunscreen. SPF works as a protective barrier, so you should always apply it after your moisturizer.
Sunblock expires…
Like any of your beauty products, over time they lose their effectiveness. Check the ‘open jar’ symbol, which indicates how long after the product is open that it’s safe to use. The number inside indicates months, so 6M is six months and 12M means 12 months. If your sunblock has been open for longer than the date the symbol indicates is safe, the effectiveness of the SPF will be reduced.
Don’t forget to apply it here…
We know it sounds extra af, but you should also use a lip balm containing SPF. Your scalp is another place often forgotten, so it’s always good to have a spray sunscreen as well as a lotion so that you can mist your hairline.