Sunscreen is our daily skincare essential to fight against the harmful ultraviolet rays that can accelerate skin aging and even lead to sunburn or skin cancer. If you want to protect your skin effectively, you need to know more about the facts of SPF. Here are some sunscreen myths that you should stop believing!
(1) Apply sunscreen once a day
Some people only apply sunscreen once a day. In general, sunscreen can only last for 90-120 minutes. The chemical blockers of sunscreen will be broken down after the exposure to UV rays. Sunscreen will be removed after sweating. It is important to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially you are outdoor or playing water sports.
(2) No SPF on a cloudy day
“I do not apply sunscreen on a cloudy day.” This is a common misunderstanding. Clouds do not block harmful UV rays, which may cause skin aging or lead to sunburn and skin cancer. It is essential that you need to use sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
(3) Higher SPF, more protection
SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor”, which means how long you can stay in the sun under the protection of sunscreen without the sun damage. If you wear SPF 30 sunscreen, you can stay outdoor or on the beach for 30 minutes to avoid sunburn. Thus, the higher SPF can only extend the duration of the protection instead of offering you more protection. You should look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which can fight against both UVA and UVB to avoid the sun damage of skin surface cells and deeper layer of skin. You are recommended to use SPF 30 or higher for daily use and SPF 50 or higher for outdoor activities.
(4) Sunscreen contains dangerous ingredients
Some people do not use sunscreen because of sunscreen contains many active chemical ingredients, which may cause skin cancer. Some active ingredients may cause skin irritation. But there is no evidence that sunscreen is toxic or unsafe. Physical block sunscreens like mineral-based sunscreen and titanium dioxide-based sunscreens are good alternatives on the market to protect your skin and without compromising your health.