CURRENT ISSUE | JULY 2008
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Keep Sun-Wise This Summer
For many, sunscreens are just another
part of dealing with the intense summer
rays. But staying safe in the sun and using
sunscreen is just as important as knowing
about the sunscreen’s ingredients and formulation.
Be sure to use a product that will suit
your needs whether it be for the lake, a baseball
game, or every day use.
SPF numbers on a package can range from as low
as 2 to as high as 60. These numbers refer to the product’s
ability to screen or block out the sun’s burning rays.
The SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of
time needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin to
the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected
skin.
Take for instance a fair-skinned person who would normally
turn red after 10 minutes in the sun. Ten minutes
is their “initial burning time.” If that person uses a sunscreen
with SPF 2, it takes 20 minutes in the sun for that
person’s skin to turn red. Now, if that person uses a sunscreen
with SPF 15, it multiplies the initial burning time
by 15, so it takes 150 minutes, or 2 and half hours, for that
person’s skin to turn red. Generally, sunscreens with an
SPF of 15 or higher are generally thought to provide useful
protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
So how much do you really know about protecting your
skin from the sun? Read the full article in this month's Denton Lifestyles!