Choosing the right sunscreen

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Some reminders about sunscreen come from experts at the Mayo Clinic.
Hopefully, you're enjoying some sun and are ready for a few reminders on how to protect yourself from aging and skin cancer. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say that the average adult requires one ounce of sunscreen - about two tablespoons' worth - for full coverage of the body. This should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before exposure to sun and then reapplied every one to two hours when outdoors.

Check that your sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB as both can damage the skin. A sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 will deflect about 93 per cent of UVB and the '15' means you can stay in the sun 15 times longer than without it and not get burned. A higher SPF will defect around 97 per cent of the sun's rays. Look for water-resistant sunscreen too - if you're planning to swim. And suit your sunscreen to your skin - cream if your skin is dry, oil-free if it is oily. For sensitive skin look for products with only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which may be gentler on your skin.

Source
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource July 2006

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