Tanning is playing with fire as far as your skin cancer risk goes. Here's the latest in defensive sun care, from A+ sunscreens to zinc oxide.
May 9, 2006 (Press Release) --
Ounce of prevention
That's how much sunscreen you need to cover your exposed areas—about enough to fill a shot glass. When smoothing it on (see Higher, yes, but...), save a full teaspoon to use on your face.
Peeper protection
Reduce your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid skin cancer by wearing wraparound sunglasses labeled 100 percent UV protection or UV absorption up to 400 nm (nanometers), advises René S. Rodriguez-Sains, MD, a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at New York University Medical Center. New UV-absorbing contact lenses are helpful but can't substitute for shades because they don't cover your entire eye.
Quick touch-ups
To safeguard your skin on the go, try sunscreen-infused towelettes. Tuck these portable sheets into your purse, workout bag, or desk drawer for easy, no-mess SPF. Two to try: Desert Essence Sunscreen Towelettes SPF 30 ($13 for 25 towelettes; www.drugstore.com) and Spwipes SPF 30+ ($9 for a 10-pack box; www.spwipes.com).
Reapply
You can't slather on sunscreen once and be done with it. Even if your lotion is labeled waterproof, you still have to reapply regularly and whenever you come out of the water. But towel off first because water dilutes sunscreen SPF. Technically, the FDA makes a distinction between water resistant (lasts 40 minutes in water) and very water resistant (lasts 80 minutes).
Seek shade
Sitting out of direct sun, in the shade, cuts UV exposure by up to 60 percent.
Top hats
The bigger the hat brim, the better the sun protection. Make yours at least 3 inches wide. Haute styles for hot weather are available at www.wearsunstuff.com, where the crown and brim of each topper are lined with fabric that offers an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+, protecting against virtually all UVA and UVB rays. UPF is a measure of a fabric's ability to block UV rays. Your basic white cotton T-shirt offers a UPF 5. Dark blue denim jeans: UPF 50+.
Source: http://www.msn.com/
That's how much sunscreen you need to cover your exposed areas—about enough to fill a shot glass. When smoothing it on (see Higher, yes, but...), save a full teaspoon to use on your face.
Peeper protection
Reduce your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid skin cancer by wearing wraparound sunglasses labeled 100 percent UV protection or UV absorption up to 400 nm (nanometers), advises René S. Rodriguez-Sains, MD, a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at New York University Medical Center. New UV-absorbing contact lenses are helpful but can't substitute for shades because they don't cover your entire eye.
Quick touch-ups
To safeguard your skin on the go, try sunscreen-infused towelettes. Tuck these portable sheets into your purse, workout bag, or desk drawer for easy, no-mess SPF. Two to try: Desert Essence Sunscreen Towelettes SPF 30 ($13 for 25 towelettes; www.drugstore.com) and Spwipes SPF 30+ ($9 for a 10-pack box; www.spwipes.com).
Reapply
You can't slather on sunscreen once and be done with it. Even if your lotion is labeled waterproof, you still have to reapply regularly and whenever you come out of the water. But towel off first because water dilutes sunscreen SPF. Technically, the FDA makes a distinction between water resistant (lasts 40 minutes in water) and very water resistant (lasts 80 minutes).
Seek shade
Sitting out of direct sun, in the shade, cuts UV exposure by up to 60 percent.
Top hats
The bigger the hat brim, the better the sun protection. Make yours at least 3 inches wide. Haute styles for hot weather are available at www.wearsunstuff.com, where the crown and brim of each topper are lined with fabric that offers an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+, protecting against virtually all UVA and UVB rays. UPF is a measure of a fabric's ability to block UV rays. Your basic white cotton T-shirt offers a UPF 5. Dark blue denim jeans: UPF 50+.
Source: http://www.msn.com/
Email
Print
SPAM
LEAVE A COMMENT
