5 Sun Protection Facts You Didn't Know

We all know to be wary of the sun, especially in summer, when more of our bodies are exposed to harmful UV rays. No matter how much you already know on the topic, the more you learn, the better you’ll be able to keep your skin well-protected. We’ve got five things you may not have known about staying safe from the sun. Read on!

 

1. Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, most people only apply 20% to 25% of the recommended amount of sunscreen. Make sure to use enough of it: the recommended quantity is about an ounce of sunscreen to cover the exposed areas of your body.

 

2. Not all sunscreens are created equal. Some contain chemical ingredients to protect your skin from the sun, while others also contain minerals to create a physical protective barrier. Look for ingredients like zinc oxide, titanium oxide, benzophenones, and octocylene on the label to ensure you have chosen a broad-spectrum sunscreen that will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

 

3. The SPF indicated on a bottle of sunscreen only refers to its level of protection from UVB rays.There is no standardized way of indicating a formula’s effectiveness against UVA rays (responsible for skin aging) yet, but choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen can ensure your skin is protected from both these types of harmful rays.

 

4. Your bottle of sunscreen shouldn’t last you until next year. And no, not because it could lose its effectiveness (most formulas retain theirs for up to three years), but because if you’re applying the recommended amount (one ounce to cover exposed areas), you should run out long before that.

5. You can get a sunburn on a cloudy day. It sucks, but it’s true: it may seem like a waste to slather on sunscreen when heading out on a less-than-sunny day, but the fact is that up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can pierce through the clouds and damage your skin. So stick to applying sunscreen daily—regardless of whether it’s sunny out—just to be safe.