Everything you need to know about sunscreen

Sunscreen, aka SPF, is a skin health habit that needs to be an everyday necessity!

This is not something that should be living in the dark, at the back of your cupboard and only surfacing in summer for beach days. Sunscreen is for all ages and all skin types (yes, even for those people who say they don't burn in the sun and only tan!).

SPF is used to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays! These ultraviolet rays are present all year round, even on wintery and cloudy days, and have the ability to penetrate cloud coverage by up to 80%. 

This means in order to achieve optimal skin health and avoid cellular skin damage, we need to apply a 30-50+ SPF every single day, even if you are wearing makeup that states it contains sunscreen and even if you are inside.

UV rays produced by the sun have the ability to reflect off surfaces increasing your chances of sun damage. This includes at the snow, in the water, sitting or walking along sand and pavement or even reading a book in the sun. What does this mean?

Wearing a hat and sunglasses isn't sufficient enough to protect your face from sun damage and SPF application is a MUST!

UV ray types

UVA rays are associated with ageing. These rays affect surface skin cells and also down into the dermis contributing to fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and age spots, degeneration of collagen and elastin and indirect DNA damage- which ALL lead to premature ageing!

UVA rays have the ability to penetrate through glass, meaning it is also causing damage if you are in the car or sitting by a window.

UVB rays are associated with the burning of the skin. These rays affect surface skin cells, causing burning and blistering of the skin and directly damage DNA.

Both of these rays can contribute to skin cancer, and they do not discriminate on skin type and heritage: this is something EVERYONE can get from the sun!

Just like most things in life, prevention is better than cure. Not only will daily application of SPF protect your skin from cancer, it can also prevent photoageing by up to 80% as well as slow its effects.

 
Image source unknown

Image source unknown

 
Image via SunButter

Image via SunButter

Sunscreen types / ingredients

Sunscreen contains active ingredients to protect UV rays from affecting your skin;

  • Physical sunscreens include the minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and work by blocking and scattering UV rays before they penetrate your skin. 

  • Chemical sunscreens include ingredients like aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, octocrylene, oxybenzone and octisalate and they work by absorbing UV rays before they can damage your skin.

It is recommended to wait 30 minutes after application of sunscreen before exposing your skin to the sun. SPF lasts a total of 2 hours on the skin, and will need to be reapplied actively every 2 hours.

Here at St Skin we have 3 SPF’s designed for a variety of skin conditions, as we know that one kind of SPF does not suit everyone. These products are highly effective, contain skin-loving ingredients and don’t have that thick/greasy feel that sunscreen is usually despised for!

Click the link to check out the SPF’s we have available and if you have any further questions about sunscreen please email us at hello@stskin.com.au or book an online consultation with our skin experts!

St. Skin