There is no doubt about the importance of being safe in the sun, however there are many facts and myths that people are often confused about. Can you get a suntan in the shade or in the water? How many times should you reapply the lotion? and Is sunscreen really waterproof? Are just some of the questions the we will answer here;
What does SPF Mean?
All sunscreens have an SPF Score and it is generally considered that anything with an SPF of 15 or higher will do an excellent job of protecting your skin. But was does SPF stand for and what does it mean?
SPF stands for ?Skin Protection Factor? and it is a measure of how long it will take for the sun?s UVB rays to burn your skin. What this means is that if it normally takes about 20 minutes for your skin to go red, when using a sunscreen with an SPF of 20 you can expect to be protected for 20 times longer, (approximately 6 hours).
However, there is a caveat to this. You should not expect any sunscreen to stay active for any more than 2 hours without reapplication.
When Should I Apply Sunscreen?
Many people will make their way out to the beach or their sun bed, strip off and then apply the sunscreen? this is your first mistake. It takes approximately 20 ? 30 minutes for sunscreen to bind and take effect on your skin, which means if you apply it on your lounger you are in danger of burning immediately.
The solution is simple ? apply your sunscreen 20 -30 minutes before going into the sun and you will be protected from the moment you step outside.
Can I get a Suntan in the shade?
The short answer to this is yes.
Sitting in the shade will block a significant amount of the sun?s UVB rays which cause sunburn, however unless you are sitting in the dark, the shade will not block all of these rays. It is also important to remember that UVB rays can be reflected by water, concrete and even sand!
Therefore you do not need to bake in the sun in order to get a tan. Avoid sitting in direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and you can rest assured that you are not missing out on tanning time.
Can I Get a Tan in the Pool and is Sunscreen Really Waterproof?
Yes you can!
Although water does block out some of the UVB rays it will not block them all and therefore you can expect to get a tan or burn when under the water. It is however, important to remember that no sunscreens are totally waterproof, but some sunscreens are certainly better than others.
In fact the American Food and Drug Administration have banned the terms ?Waterproof and Sweat Proof? on all bottle of sunscreen as they have decided that these terms are misleading. In addition to that, all labels must also indicate how long the sunscreen will remain to be effect in water which is usually somewhere between 40 ? 80 minutes.
Therefore, remember to wear sunscreen in the pool or the sea and to reapply when you get out.
So How Do You Get a Perfect Tan?
Here is a bullet point guide:
- Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside
- Reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours
- Wear sunscreen in the shade and in the water
- Don?t overdo it ? stay out of the sun when it is at its hottest ? remember you will still tan in the shade!
- Drink lots of water ? Drinking water is the best thing that you can do for your skin and drinking water throughout the day (and night) will help keep your skin healthy and hydrated and therefore more likely to develop an even tan
- Moisturise after sun exposure, this will help re-hydrate your skin as well
- Think gradual – You will not get a tan in one day, take your time and you will tan just fine!
In order to find the perfect destination to work on your tan this summer use Alihoco to search for the widest range of last minute all-inclusive holidays by visiting www.allinclusive.co.uk
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