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Anti Aging Skin Care » Skin Care Tips » Sun Protection
Sun Protection
In recent years a lot of research has been done on tanning and the effects of ultraviolet rays on the skin. This is invaluable in determining your individual needs and so enables you to plan a safe tanning programme.
UVA and UVB
Essentially the sun gives off two types of rays: infrared, which burn and cause sunstrokes; and ultraviolet, which penetrate the cutaneous barrier. The UVB rays (of average frequency) activate the melanocytes which are responsible for the production of malanine, and slowly but surely bronze the skin. The UVA rays however (which are of higher frequency) penetrate right through to the cells, damaging them and causing premature aging and skin cancers. The idea then is to choose products which will protect the skin from the harmful solar rays whilst not blocking the beneficial ones.
High protection factor
Sun creams come with different protection factors indicating strength in filtering the harmful solar rays. The higher the number the greater the protection. For the first few days in the sun everyone should use a high protection factor cream. After that the choice of sun-protection factor will depend on skin type.
Blonde and redheads with fair skins should not go lower than factor 30. If you have brown hair with a medium skin tone you can go down to factor 20 after the first week. People with dark hair and olive skin can use factor 15 or even 10 after three or four days providing the sun cream is reapplied regularly.
In all cases, dermatologists advise that sun exposure should be before noon and after 4-5 pm, and must be very gradual. Do 15 minutes the first day, adding ten minutes daily until reaching the maximum exposure time for your skin type, with two hours being the longest even the most sun resistant should stay in the sun.
Some Facts about Sun Protection
- To tan without giving yourself wrinkles, change your diet.
- Follow sun-protection factor guides carefully.
- Make sure you build up sun exposure gradually and never sunbathe at the hottest time of the day.
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