By Donna Mintz, Donna J Skincare
Being someone who, for most of her life, was in search of the perfect tan, and being old enough to remember the days before SPF even existed, learning what a tan really is kind of blew my mind. I can’t even wrap my brain around the damage that I’ve done to my skin that may show up in the next few years.
Using sunscreen can dramatically reduce your chances of skin cancer and protects your skin against the aging effects of the sun, especially when for your workers who are outdoors all day.
There are two different types of sunscreens, physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen.
Physical sunscreen, a.k.a. mineral sunscreen, sits on top of the skin and reflects the sun’s rays. The minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the main active ingredients in these physical blocks. Physical sunscreen protects against UVA (aging rays) and UVB (burning rays) – see broad spectrum and SPF below – and starts its protection as soon as it is applied. Physical sunscreen is less irritating and better for sensitive skin, it’s more moisturizing to skin and may leave a whitish or tinted film on the skin depending on the brand.
Chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin, absorbs the UV rays, converts them into heat, and releases it from the body. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens include octinoxate and oxybenzone which have been shown to enter our bodies, pulling unhealthy chemicals with them and disrupting hormones. These 2 chemicals have also been tied to damaging coral reefs. Chemical sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays, needs time to absorb, and can be more water- and sweat-resistant than physical sunscreen, although it may be harsh for sensitive skin.
The sunscreen you choose should be broad spectrum. This means it will protect against both UVA and UVB, which is important as both can do damage. The proper sunscreen should be fragrance-free because the term “fragrance” or “parfum” is an umbrella term for chemicals, some of which can be toxic to the body.
Sun Protection Factor, a.k.a. SPF, is a measure of how well a sunscreen protects skin from UVB rays, a.k.a. burning rays, the ones that damage skin and contribute to skin cancer. SPF does not take into consideration UVA rays.
There is a basic equation that is used to figure out how much time you can spend in the sun with a certain SPF before you start to burn. This is especially important if you send employees for significant periods outdoors.
1. Take the time you would normally burn in the sun without protection, this is usually 15-20 minutes, less if you have fair skin.
2. Multiply this number by the SPF of your product to get a rough estimate of the minutes one can stay in the sun without burning.
For example, if you’re using an SPF of 15 multiply by the above number, 15 x 15 = 225 minutes or 3 3/4 hours that you can stay in the sun without burning.
Please note that this equation is not perfect because the amount of UV light that reaches us depends on a number of factors, including cloud cover, time of day, reflection of UV rays off the ground, water, sand, etc. (even snow and ice during the winter reflect UV rays), and if you have applied your sunscreen properly.
Yes, one often sees “if applied properly”. Believe it or not, most of us do not apply sunscreen properly, or often enough. Here are some tips to help you get this right and to pass on to staff.
1. Apply at least a shot glass full of sunscreen to ALL exposed areas. If using chemical sunscreen this should be done at least 15 minutes before going out in the sun.
2. Reapply every 2 hours for general use. If you are at the beach or working in the sun, reappling sunscreen is essential. Reapply even in the presence of water, snow, and sand. They reflect UV rays, increasing your chances of burning.
3. Use a lip balm with an SPF of 30.
4. Reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating, water resistant doesn’t mean waterproof. No sunscreen is completely water resistant.
5. Don’t use expired sunscreen or sunscreen left in a hot car, it loses effectiveness.
6. If wearing sunscreen clothing, keep in mind you still need to apply at least a shot glass full of sunscreen as previously mentioned.
Now go out there and work or enjoy yourself in the sun, but reduce your risk and protect your beautiful skin!
Donna Mintz is the creator and owner of Donna J Skincare, an all-natural, anti-aging skincare company that believes your skincare should care for the health of your skin.
You can find Donna J Skincare at: www.DonnaJSkincare.com