5 Ways to Screen Yourself From the Sun
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Sunscreen is your ticket to young looking skin. Be sure to use it – and use it properly.
Daily Dose
Wear sunscreen daily, rain or shine, summer or winter. Don’t assume fog, mist, or clouds will shade you, since 80 percent of the sun’s rays penetrate them. And don’t rely solely on protection from a beach umbrella or wide-brimmed hat, since 85 percent of rays bounce off sand, water, snow, and concrete. Also use sunscreen if you sit near a window at the office or home, since UVA rays penetrate glass.
Go For Broad Spectrum
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen to guard against the longer UVA rays associated with aging and the shorter UVB rays that cause most skin cancer. Opt for a product with a sun-protection factor, or SPE, of 15 or greater, meaning it will take 15 times as long for your skin to burn. Non-greasy formulas are available for people with oily skin.
Slather It On
Dermatologists recommend using about an ounce of product on your face, ears, and neck – much more than most people use. Apply it about 30 minutes before going outside to give the skin time to absorb it, and reapply every two to three hours.
Pay Lip Service
To guard your lips from the sun, use a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen. Squamous cell skin cancer is most aggressive when it strikes the lips.
Run for Cover
When possible. stay out of the sun from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M., when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
