We all know we need to wear sunscreen when outdoors. When sunscreen is applied to our exposed skin it helps protect against sunburns. The American Cancer Society recommends the use of sunscreen to help prevent certain skin cancers (1). Many experts recommend the daily use of sunscreen even if you are going to be indoors. Cosmetic products now have sunscreen included, so be sure to check the label.
Most of us only think to wear sunscreen when we are going to be outside for long periods of time and it's a sunny day. However, sunscreen needs to be worn at all times when we are outdoors. Even on a cloudy or hazy day it is estimated that up to 80% of the suns UV rays make it through the clouds. And as we mentioned above it is recommended that sunscreen be worn indoors as well.
Choosing the right sunscreen is important. Sunscreens are rated by something called a spf or sun protection factor. Spf ratings can range from 2 to 50 or higher. Most dermatologists recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an spf of 30. If your skin would normally burn in 10 minutes and you have an spf 30 on you would be able to stay in the sun without burning for 300 minutes (30 x 10). While outdoors in the sun make sure you reapply sunscreen frequently, especially after swimming our sweating. Sunscreen is safe for babies as well and many of the brands have formulas specifically for babies and children.
We have all been there. Standing in front of the sunscreen aisle. There are a million different brands, all promising different things. According to ConsumerSearch.com the best sunscreen is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55. The best budget sunscreen is No-Ad Sunblock Lotion SPF 45. The best natural sunscreen and the best sunscreen for babies is Blue Lizard Suncream Sensitive SPF 30+. The best sport-formula sunscreen is Coppertone Sport Sunblock Lotion SPF 30.
The most important thing to remember is to wear sunscreen even if it's cloudy outside. Reapply the sunscreen often and chose a spf high enough to offer you the protection you need. Chose a broad-spectrum formula with at least an spf of 30.