10 Tips to Selecting the Right Sunscreen for you and Your Family

Introduction:

Choosing the right sunscreen is crucial for protecting your family from harmful UV rays. With myriad options available, understanding SPF, ingredients, and specific needs can guide you to the best product.

Key Takeaways:

• Choose sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15; higher for sensitive or fair skin.
• Look for UVA-blocking ingredients like Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide.
• Select a brand you enjoy for consistent use.
• Opt for water and sweat-resistant options for active days.
• Avoid harmful ingredients if you have skin allergies or are choosing for babies.
• Reapply sunscreen regularly, especially after swimming or sweating.

How do you select an effective sunscreen for you and your family?

To ensure effective protection, choose a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, pay attention to UVA-blocking ingredients like Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, consider personal preferences for texture and scent, and select water and sweat-resistant options for physical activities. For those with sensitive skin, especially babies and children, avoid harsh chemicals and opt for gentle formulations. Regular application is key to maintaining protection.

Your family can never be overdone. For those of us who don’t want to cover up every last inch of skin on those beautiful warm, sunny days though, modern sunscreens at least provide a fair degree of protection from the harmful effect of UV rays.

It’s fair to say that some sunscreens are better than others and with the plethora of products on the market, choosing between them can be tricky. How do you know if the product you buy to protect your own skin and especially the sensitive skin of your children is going to do the job it claims?

As with any purchase, it pays to do your homework. To that end, here are 10 tips to help you find the right sunscreen to keep you and your family free from sun-damaged skin this summer.

#1 Know Your Facts About SPF

The SPF rating that you see on sunscreen packaging tells you how effective a product will be for protecting you and your family from UVB rays. Never think about using any sunscreen with an SPF rating lower than 15. If you tend to prefer staying in the shade, SPF 15 should be fine. However, if your skin is very fair or you suffer with any condition which makes your skin sensitive to sunlight, choose a higher rating such as SPF 30.

#2 Know Your Sunscreen Ingredients

No matter how high the SPF rating of your sunscreen, it provides no indication of the product’s ability to protect your skin from UVA rays. Instead you should select a sunscreen according to its makeup. Look for products which contain one or more of the following ingredients:

• Ecamsule
• Avobenzone
• Oxybenzone
• Zinc Oxide
• Titanium dioxide

All of these ingredients are known as UVA blockers. The price of sunscreen will vary a lot according to these ingredients. For example, Ecamsule is a newly approved UVA blocker and sunscreens which contain it are very expensive. Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide on the other hand are both effective at protecting from UVA radiation, but tend to be used in the least expensive sunscreens.

#3 Choose a Brand that you Like

Regardless of advertising, promotions and manufacturers’ claims, it’s important to choose a product which you like the smell and texture of. If you buy a brand which you or your family members don’t like, there’s a high chance that someone won’t use it. Your teenagers especially will be likely to go without protection rather than use a product which doesn’t appeal to them.

#4 Consider Sweat and Water Resistant Brands

This tip is especially important if you will be playing sports, exercising or swimming in the sun. Remember though, that sweat and water resistant sunscreens only prolong the protection to your skin. You should still reapply them regularly as they are not fully waterproof.

#5 If You Have Skin Allergies

If you or any of your family have extra-sensitive skin or suffer from allergies, you will need to be particularly careful about your choice of sunscreen. Ingredients to avoid in these cases include:

• Para-aminobenzoic acid
• Dioxybenzone
• Oxybenzone
• Sulisobenzone

You should also avoid sunscreens which contain fragrances, preservatives or alcohol. Probably the best sunscreens for sensitive skin are those containing zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide.

#6 For the Baby

To be really safe, babies under six months old should not be exposed to any but a very small amount of direct sunlight. However, if you do need sunscreen for a baby, follow the guidelines above for people with sensitive skin. Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide will protect your baby’s skin from the sun without getting absorbed, which means they are unlikely to cause skin irritation. Choose a product with an SPF of at least 15.

#7 For Children Over 6 Months Old

For the young ones, it’s wise to avoid sunscreens containing alcohol as these can cause skin irritation. Try to choose a product based on zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Remember to go with a sunscreen rated SPF 15 as a minimum. If you have children that just love to spend time in the water, insist on an SPF rating of 30 or even higher.

#8 Don’t Forget About Faces

Protecting your family’s faces from the sun requires a little more attention than the thicker skinned areas of their bodies. Creams are often better than gels or sprays which can sting sensitive eyes. If you have members of your family who are prone to acne, try to purchase lighter textured products. Protect lips with balm containing sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher.

#9 Forget About the 100 SPF

It makes no sense to buy that drugstore sunscreen that claims to be rated at 100 SPF. Even if the rating is correct, the amount of extra protection offered over a 50 SPF product is minute. Sunscreen of SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. Even a product rated at 15 SPF blocks 93%. No product blocks 100% of UVB radiation:  don’t let the hype take you in.

#10 Sprays Can Be Wasteful

While spray-on sunscreen can be good for the hairy bodied man in your family, consider an alternative, such as a cream or gel if you have children that will apply the sunscreen themselves. If it’s breezy, much of the spray can disperse if it’s not applied carefully. This is a waste of what may well be an expensive product and can also result in less than adequate skin protection.

In addition to choosing suitable sunscreens, make sure your family applies an initial layer of sunscreen 15 minutes or so before going outside and keep reapplying during their time in the sun. A good sunscreen, regularly and liberally applied, will prevent unpleasant sunburn and as well as the long term damage of regular UV exposure OC Wellness.