IN MINUTES

We all know higher SPF numbers mean better protection, but do you really know what it means? As it turns out most of us do not, resulting in skin damage from improper use
UV RAYS
The rst thing to understand is what the UV rays that hit our skin are in the rst place. Ozone layer

News and events visually

The UV Index

Sunscreen 101
UVC
Strongest, shortest wavelength Usually gets absorbed by ozone layer

02
Low

Minimal protection needed Sunglasses for bright days Use sunscreen if outside for more than one hour Cover up; wear hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if out for more than 30 minutes Look for shade near midday Reduce sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Seek shade, cover up and wear sunscreen Take full precautions Avoid exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. unprotected skin will burn very quickly Very rare in Canada index can reach 14 or more in the tropics Try to stay out of the sun if at all possible

35
UVB

Moderate

Longer waves that damage the surface of the skin, causing sunburn Strength depends on time of day, season and geographic location

67
High

UVA
Least intense, but can penetrate deeper into skin, causing long-term e ects such as wrinkles and age spots Can travel through clouds and glass Do not put sunscreen on infants under six months: Their skin is much too sensitive for such chemicals

Do not penetrate glass

810
Very high

Human skin layers

Epidermis Dermis Subcutaneous layer

56 teaspoons for the entire

body

Recommended amount of sunscreen:

11+

Extreme

2 hours to ensure proper protection

Types of sunscreen
Physical:
Physically blocks UV Absorbs UV radiation radiation (both UVA and UVB) Can be UVA or UVB Two most common are absorbers titanium dioxide and zinc oxide

Reapply sunscreen every:

Water-resistant = 40 minutes in water Waterproof =

80 minutes in water

SPF
Range: SPF=

Factors a ecting sun exposure

Generally, maximum sun exposure time =

Stands for sun protection factor

2 to 110

Chemical:

The term sunblock is misleading no product can completely block the suns rays

Minutes to burn without sunscreen x SPF number

Keep the following factors in mind when it comes to applying sunscreen:

Amount of UV rays needed to burn with sunscreen Amount of UV rays needed to burn with no sunscreen
(result is rounded down to nearest 5)

Look for broad spectrum coverage!

Many products labeled broad spectrum or UVA blockers do not really block UVA rays! Any of these ingredients o er proper broad-spectrum protection: Benzophenones (oxybenzone) Cinnamates (octinoxate or cinoxate) Ecamsule (Mexoryl or Mexoryl SX) Sulisobenzone Salicylates Zinc oxide Titanium dioxide Avobenzone (Parsol 1789; better paired with oxybenzone or Helioplex)

BUT!

Amount of sun exposure depends on more than just length of time spent in sun Altitude: It is estimated UV radiation increases 4% per 304.8 m in elevation Latitude: Sun intensity becomes
greater the closer you are to equator perspiration, diminishing sunscreen effectiveness

Skin type:
Type Sun History I Always burns, never tans II Burns easily, tans minimally III Burns, tans lightly IV Minimal burning, tans well V Rarely burns, tans darkly VI Never burns, tans profusely Example Pale white; red-headed; freckled (Irish/Scots/Welsh) White to beige; fair-haired; blue/green-eyed (Caucasian) Beige Light brown (Mediterranean Caucasian) Moderate brown (Middle Eastern, some Hispanics/African-Americans) Dark brown/black (AfricanAmerican)

Percentage of UVB absorbed, by SPF: 2 50.0% 4 70.0 No 8 rating system 87.5 exists to measure 15 93.3 protection from UVA 30 96.7 exposure 98.0 50
Sources: medicinenet.com; How Stu Works; rei.com; skincancer.org

Temperature, humidity: Increases Abrasion: Skin brushing against

surfaces removes some or all protection you must reapply sunscreen sooner

Exertion: Heavy perspiration means

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY MEGAN DINNER/QMI AGENCY