In the hot season, when the skin is in direct contact with the strong sun, you know that sunscreens are essential. But a recent survey in the US, initiated by the American Academy of Dermatology, which involved 1,000 adults, found that 80% know they should use SPF sunscreen every two hours, but only 33 % of people reported doing so. Moreover, 42% admitted that they avoid sunscreen restoration altogether or reapply it only when their skin is wet.
This is a very big mistake. Sunscreen is a necessity to reduce the chances of skin cancer as well as other sun damage, which also accelerates the signs of aging (regardless of skin tone).
However, there is something else: Sunscreen can be a bit confusing. What do all those numbers on the bottle mean? Why should we reapply? And when is it really needed?
Below, experts explain that there is a myth about applying sunscreen that you should no longer believe. And the reasons are quite clear.
Myth: The higher the SPF, the longer you can keep the cream before applying it again.
Fact: If you use SPF 30 or SPF 100, you should reapply it at least every two hours. This is because SPF means how much of the sunlight the sunscreens filter, not how long it lasts. The reason why sunscreen only lasts two hours, says Paul Nghiem, MD, Ph.D., head of the Dermatology Department at the University of Washington School of Medicine, is that the sun and humidity go away, eliminating some of the protective chemicals.
Prioritize: If necessary, another phone ring to re-apply the cream, more often than you think. "On average, people apply only about a third of the sunscreen that the SPF itself contains," says Dr. Nghiem. If you save, SPF 30 can only give you protection against SPF 10.
To cover the whole body, you need a glass like this (shot glass), and the best advice is to use a cream with SPF 50 or even higher.
