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Did you know that your skin has a 'memory', as unprotected
exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays throughout your life can
have an irreversible negative effect on your skin and can lead
to long term skin damage – even skin cancer.
In honour of National Sun Awareness Week (June 8th – 14th), Dr.
Lydia Evans, a Consulting Dermatologist to L'Oréal, provides her
Top Five Suncare Tips to help safeguard your skin from the sun’s
harmful UV rays this summer:
- Amount required: 4x more! – Most people do not apply
enough sunscreen to ensure maximum sun protection. For an
average-sized adult, a well-filled palm or 20 ml of sunscreen is
sufficient for one complete all-over body application. This
amount will vary for children.
- 30-minute Rule – Sunscreen should be applied on dry skin
30-minutes before going outdoors to enable the active
ingredients in the sunscreen to properly blend into your skin to
provide maximum sun protection. It should be re-applied on dry
skin every two hours or directly following any strenuous
physical activity and/or swimming.
- Don't Forget your Face – The face is the most common area
that skin cancer is detected, as it receives the most sun
exposure. Remember to pay special attention to key areas on your
face such as the nose, the eye-lids, the ears, the hair-line and
the mouth's contour. And, use a sunscreen underneath your makeup
that is specifically formulated for the sensitive skin of the
face, with moisturizing and non-comedogenic properties.
- Cover-up and apply sunscreen under your clothes too – Wear
tightly woven, light coloured and breathable fabrics to ensure
that the sun's harmful UVA rays cannot penetrate through them,
as there are small gaps in between the weaves of most fabrics.
During intense sun conditions it is a good idea to wear
sunscreen underneath clothing for maximum protection. In
addition, wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses that provide UV
protection to protect the face and eyes from sun exposure.
- Educate your Kids – Instilling the importance of proper suncare into your children at a young age is ideal so it becomes
a habit through childhood to adulthood. One easy to remember tip
you can share with your child is The Shadow Rule. As the size of
a person's shadow decreases during the day, the risk from UV
rays increases - so your child should be aware of his/her shadow
and its size when outdoors and when it starts to appear smaller
then he/she needs to go indoors or play in the shade to avoid a
sunburn.
Another important tip from Dr. Evans is to ensure you read
the label before purchasing sunscreen, as not all sunscreens are
created equal.
Sunscreen that contains ingredients such as Mexoryl® SX,
Mexoryl® XL, photostablized Parsol® 1789, titanium dioxide or
zinc oxide found in Ombrelle, the #1 recommended sun protection
brand by Canadian dermatologists and pharmacists, help to
protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Also, look for the logo
and stamp of approval from the Canadian Dermatology Association.
When selecting a sunscreen, be sure to choose the right SPF (Sun
Protection Factor) for your lifestyle. The SPF number, which can
range from SPF 15 to SPF 60, represents a measurement of the
amount of UVB protection provided by the product. The higher the
SPF number the greater the protection. Generally a SPF of 60 is
recommended for those who will be outdoors all day, or burn
easily due to fair complexions coupled with red or blond hair.
An SPF of 45 is ideal for those with skin that burns easily with
limited exposure to sun or who will be outdoors for long periods
of time. And, an SPF 30 is the ideal standard for all around,
everyday sun protection. An SPF of 15 is only recommended for
days you will spend mostly indoors such as going directly from
the house to the office.
By incorporating these easy-to-follow tips and advice into
everyday life, you will help to safeguard your skin against the
damaging effects of the sun's harmful UV rays to enjoy a
healthier outdoor lifestyle.
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