All you need to know about sunscreen

In this post you will find everything you need to know about sunscreen.
The full form of the term SPF is "sun protection factor".Excessive exposure to sun may cause skin cancer,burned skin,premature aging and various other skin problems.Sunscreens helps to protect our skin from harmful rays of the sun.
An SPF of 15 usually protects us for 2.5 hours,,i.e,if our skin has got the power to not get affected by sunrays for 10 minutes.Then SPF of 15 will protect us for : 15*10 =2.5 hours.
UVA is responsible for aging and UVB is responsible for skin burning.So use sunscreen accordingly.
Even the highest number of SPF cannot protect us from all the sun rays,so we need to stay under shadow whenever possible.
The percent of SPF do not vary greatly between different amount of SPF.
SPF 15 gives 92% of sun protection,while SPF 30 gives 97% sun protection and SPF 40 gives 97.% of sun protection.The difference of protection between SPF 15 and SPF 30 is great (5%), but the difference between SPF 30 and SPF 40 is minimal (0.5%).
Many people think that SPF value can be added.But it is not true.For example:if you apply a sunscreen of SPF 15 and then of 20,you will not have the protection of an SPF 35. You will only be getting the protection of an SPF 20.
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before stepping out into the sun.Sunblocks starts to work as soon as we apply it,so one does not need to apply it before.The difference between sunscreen and sunblock is-Sunscreens contains chemicals that absorb UV rays before they damage the skin and sunblocks contain particles that physically block UV rays from reaching the skin.
Always make sure you wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and also use waterproof or sweatproof sunscreen.Be sure to reapply another layer of sunscreen every two hours throughout the day if you are in the sun for more than 2 hours under intense UV conditions, and especially when you're sweating.
Sunscreen comes in different forms for different skin types-gel based,cream based,spray,lotion,etc.Also make sure to protect your lips and hair by using hair care and lipcare products with SPF of at least 15.You can also use a scarf,wear goggles/sunglasses to protect yourself from sun rays.
Experts, like osteopathic physician, Dr. Joseph Mercola, are now saying that direct exposure to sunlight is actually good for you. Of course you should always take precautions when spending long periods of time in the sun.As agreed upon by Dr. Mercola and other experts in the field, the best way to reap the benefits of vitamin D is through natural sunlight.Not only does direct sunlight provide us with vitamin D, it also triggers our skin to naturally produce it ourselves. This in turn supports cardiovascular health, promotes optimal cholesterol levels, enhances muscle strength, produces optimal blood pressure levels, helps maintain healthy immune systems, supports healthy kidney function, promotes healthy teeth, and keeps our bones strong and healthy.
Most adults should use about 35 ml or 1 oz. of sunscreen to cover their whole body.Opt for natural sunscreens.