WHEN DO WE NEED SUNSCREEN?

  Sunscreens are meant for protection from the sun. But what do they actually protect & what are the benefits? That is something many of us don't know. 
            A busy mother says, "With kids, there's no time for sunscreen!!!"
            Guys say, " Isn't it meant for girls?"
            One who uses sunscreen says, " Tis cloudy today, so din't use it."
            Regular user says, " I use it daily in the morning."
 So, today I thought I'd add few simple points as to why  & when we'll need a sunscreen. 
         We think of sunlight & its severity based on the visible light & the heat we encounter. That's the reason people avoid sunscreens on cloudy & cool days. Sun rays comprise of visible light & UV rays. UV rays are of three types - A, B, C. 
           UV A - is the most abundant of the three types & is passes thro' the ozone layer. (95%)
           UV B - is the next in abundance & passes thro' the ozone. 
           UV C - this is totally filtered by the ozone layer. (Skin cancers are prevalent in the ozone lost zones).
 So, the main rays that reach us are the UV - A & B rays. They are responsible for aging of the skin, tanning or darkening of the skin, sunburns, skin cancer, etc. When we use a sunscreen, it is meant to shield us from all these side effects. 
          There are two types of sunscreens - Physical & Chemical.
Physical snscreens work by blocking the UV from reaching the skin. Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide are examples of physical sunscreens.

Chemical Sunscreens work by absorbing the UV rays or scattering them. Examples of chemical sunscreens  are  Octylcrylene,  Avobenzone,  Octinoxate,  Octisalate,  Oxybenzone,  Homosalate,  Helioplex,  4-MBC,  Mexoryl SX and XL,  Tinosorb S and M,  Uvinul T 150,  Uvinul A Plus, etc.

       When UV rays fall on the skin, the scattered melanin in the cells gather above the nucleus forming an umbrella appearance. This is to shield the DNA from getting damaged by the harmful rays. This is the reason for the immediate tan that we see after going out in the sun. So when we use sunscreens, the skin is protected from the harmful rays, thereby the melanin clustering & tanning is prevented. However, the long set tan works by other principles and will need a dermatologist to treat them.

       When to apply the sunscreen? In India, as soon as the sun is out, till sundown we need sunscreens. Do apply the sunscreen 15 - 20 minutes before stepping out. This time is needed for the sunscreens to become active.

       How long is a sunscreen effective? Sunscreens work well for around 3 hours. After that, the effect wanes off. If one is outdoors for more than 3 hours, a reapplication of the sunscreen is needed to get effective UV protection. So, atleast thrice or four times a day usage is needed for good protection.

      Can one use powder, make up on the sunscreen? Yes. Give it 15 mintes and apply the make up on top. But remember to remove and reapply after 3 hours.

      Then comes the question, " will our Vitamin D reserve come down? ". No, there's always a little window for Vit D production. So that need'nt be our worry.

       For those who go swimming, stay on the beach, please use a water proof sunscreen. Test it by applying it on your hand & letting the water run over it to check its water resistance. Then use it where needed. For acne prone skin, check for a non-comedogenic sunscreen on the label before using it. When in doubt, consult your dermatologist before starting use, because this is for your life time. 

Finally, sunscreen is not a GIRL thing. UV shows no discrepancy as male or female. So why us? Stay protected. Stay young. Feel good.

Feel free to share it if you feel your friends can benefit from it too. Hope this clears all your doubts about a sunscreen use.

Take Care of your skin......

 - Dr. Annie Flora, Cosmetic Dermatologist, Laser & Hair Transplant Surgeon, Chennai.

For an overview of various cosmetological procedures, please visit Dr. Annie's Skin Care website