Your Ticket To Young Looking Skin

By: Michael Russell

How much time you do you spend in the sun unprotected? Does your work requires you to spend all day long outside and exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays? Or are you the kind of person who spends so much time on the beach trying to get a good tan?

We all love the warmth of the sun, who doesn't? All of us would like to flock outside and enjoy the sun during summer time after enduring the chilling and dark days of winter.

We may love the sun but it can bring harsh and unfriendly reactions to our skin and we should be cautious.

Using a sunscreen will protect you from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. You should always use it before exposing yourself and be sure to use it properly.

Here are some important skin care tips to follow in using a sunscreen.

1. Sunscreen should be worn daily whether it rains or shines and not only during the hot summer season but during winter as well. Never assume that the mist, fog and clouds during the cold season will shade you from the sun's rays. It is estimated that as much as 80 percent of the sun's rays penetrate through them. A wide brimmed hat and umbrella are not enough to protect you from the UV rays. About 85 percent of the sun's rays bounce off the sand, concrete, water and snow and onto your unprotected skin. If you spend a lot of time at work exposed to the sun or your office is situated near a window, always provide yourself with some sunscreen protection since UV rays can penetrate through glass.

2. Look for broad spectrum sunscreens. These can be found among the many skin care products in the skin care section of your local stores. A broad spectrum sunscreen can provide you protection against both UVA rays and UVB rays. UVA rays are blamed for accelerating the aging process while UVB rays are the culprits for most skin cancers. Your sunscreen should have a sun-protector factor or SPF of 15 or higher. This means that it will take your skin 15 times longer to get burned.

3. An ounce of sunscreen should be enough to be applied on your face, ears and neck. Some people even need more. A sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before exposing yourself to the sun so that your skin will have the time to absorb the substance. It is best to reapply it after every two hours.

4. Don't forget to provide your lips with some protection against the sun. A lip balm or a lipstick that contains sunscreen will be helpful. Some forms of cancer like squamous cell carcinoma can be very aggressive especially when it affects the lips.

5. Your hands should also receive the necessary skin care protection provided by a sunscreen. The thin skin on your hands is very vulnerable to sun damage and this is often the first area on your body that will show the effects of sun exposure.

6. The sun is most harmful between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M. when it is at its strongest. Be sure to avoid exposure during these times.

Therefore, the best way to provide ourselves the necessary protection against sun damage is to choose a sunscreen product with a high SPF and apply it in generous amounts. Be lavish in protecting your skin against the harmful rays of the sun and use it daily regardless of weather or season. Put that sunscreen on and stay protected.