Sunscreen And Sunblock Lotions
Well summer is here again and it is time for swimming,boating and just plain outdoor activities but along with all of these great summer activities comes a lot of time in the sun. So I wanted to write a post about how to protect yourself in the sun. Some people are very misinformed about sunscreens and sunblocks. If you use sunscreen you can still get a very nice tan without over doing it and burning yourself. Here is the low down on sunscreen and sunblock.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. All sunscreens are given a number between 4 and 30, so you’ll have to determine which one is best for you. Most dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15. However, the level of protection a person needs is usually based upon her tanning history and skin tone. For example, people with pale complexions who should shoot for a SPF of 30, while people with darker complexions may need a SPF of as little as 4. To be safe, it’s always best to ask a pharmacist which SPF would work best for you. And since most drugstores have pharmacists, you can get this info for free.
While most people apply sunscreen and sunblock together, they are actually very different products that are intended for different uses. Sunscreen is a cream or lotion that is SPF-rated. It reacts with the skin to create an invisible barrier against the sun. The strength of the barrier is determined by the SPF number. The lower the number, the less protection. Most sunscreens should be applied 20 minutes before you go outside so they have time to work. Using a sunscreen will not prevent you from tanning, but it will lower your risk of getting burned.
Sunblock doesn’t have an SPF, because it protects the body from all UV rays. Usually, sunblock is a thick cream that should contain zinc oxide (the white gunk you sometimes see people put on their noses). Here’s where it gets tricky: Some sunscreens with SPF numbers of 15 or higher are erroneously referred to as sunblocks. If you want a sunblock, don’t buy a package with an SPF listed, because a true sunblock won’t need it.
I hope this info helped some of you to decipher between the two types of suntan lotions and which one if any is right for you this summer. Have fun and be safe this summer!

