Healthy Me - At Home and Away: Sunscreen

Monday, June 1, 2009

Sun protection ought to be a top beauty must-have

SCREEN SAVERS

LYNETTE KOH, lynettek@mediacorp.com.sg

THESE days, almost everyone we meet greets us with complaints about the heat. It's official: Sunny days are here again (not that they really ever leave).

As the best line of defence against signs of premature ageing — such as wrinkles and pigmentation — caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, sun protection should be the top must-have in one's beauty arsenal.

And their capabilities keep growing: Practically all the newest sunscreens arriving at our office lately boast a higher-than-ever Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 50.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, "SPF is a measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to produce sunburn on protected skin (that is, in the presence of sunscreen) relative to the amount of solar energy required to produce sunburn on unprotected skin."

A higher SPF, therefore, would mean a product offers greater protection against UVB rays, which cause redness and sunburn.

The other important measure to watch out for is PA, or the protection grade of UVA — the rays which cause skin damage and skin cancer. PA+ provides some protection, PA++ provides moderate protection, while PA+++ provides good protection.

While consultant dermatologist Dr Lawrence Khoo notes that using sunscreen with a higher SPF can be a good idea, he reckons that the main mistake people make with sunscreen is not using enough of it.

Noting that the amount of protection drops drastically when insufficient amounts of sunscreen are applied, he said: "For example, take the case of a sunblock with SPF50 tested at 2mg/cm2 in the laboratory. If the amount applied on the skin is only 1mg/cm2, the effective SPF drops to 7."

Dr Khoo recommends following the teaspoon rule: The amount of sunscreen we use should correspond to half a teaspoon for the head and neck, half a teaspoon for each upper limb, one teaspoon for the front torso, one teaspoon for the back torso and one teaspoon for each lower limb.

Slather them on
The latest high-powered sunscreens to try

1) Eucerin Sun Fluid Mattifying SPF50+ offers what it calls "a third dimension of sun protection" – licochalcone, a plant-derived antioxidant which helps to clean up free radicals caused by UV radiation. Available at Guardian, Unity and hospital pharmacies at $39.90.

2) Beta-glucan and enzyme extracts are used to help soothe and protect skin from UV rays in the Sunblock High Lasting SPF50+/PA+++ by Laneige. Available at all Laneige counters at $38.

3) Offering SPF50+ and PA+++ protection, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion and Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture feature two FDA-approved sunscreens, avobenzone and oxybenzone. Available at leading personal stores and pharmacies at $20.90.

4) Coppertone Perfect UV Cut Milk SPF 50 offers high-coverage strength in a non-comedogenic, water-resistant formula. Available at Watsons, Guardian, Unity and NTUC supermarkets at $15.95.

5) Vichy UVActiv SPF 50 Daily Protective Anti-Pigmentation Fluid delivers UVA protection with patented UVA filters, Mexoryl XL and Mexoryl SX, to help prevent skin darkening and brown spots. Available at selected Guardian, Watsons, Unity and major hospital pharmacies at $48.

6) Roll on the sun protection on sensitive or overexposed areas such as the eyes, nose, lips and ears with Kiehl's Targeted Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, featuring UVA filters Mexoryl XL and Mexoryl SX. Available from June at Kiehl's outlets at $35.

From TODAYOnline.com; see the source article here.

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What if sun protection is taken, not applied?
And did you have wrinkles that you want cleared?