11 Must-Know Facts About Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a necessity for protecting your skin against burns, skin cancer, and premature aging but it can’t be expected to do all the work by itself. Always use sunscreen in combination with a broad-brimmed hat, loose, tightly woven cotton clothing with long sleeves, and UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) protective clothing like rash guards. Stay out of direct sun during peak times, between 10AM and 4PM and always seek shade. You simply can’t rely on sunscreen alone to prevent skin cancer.

UVB radiation is responsible for red, burned and blistered skin and is the major player in causing sun-related skin cancer. UVA radiation doesn’t result in redness and burns but the rays penetrate deep into the skin causing damage to cells where skin cancers develop. No matter the time of day, the strength of UVA rays remain constant, where UVB radiation is highest at peak times. Your trusty SPF will protect you from UVB rays, but to shield your cells from UVA look for products with zinc oxide and avobenzone.

You might also like: 20 major sunscreen mistakes everyone makes.

Most of us use far too little sunscreen to adequately protect our skin from sun damage. Most people apply one-third less SPF than the amounts used by researchers when evaluating how effective sunscreen is. So, always apply more than you think you need. A good rule to follow, for an average-sized person, is to apply at least one ounce of sunscreen (or a shot glass amount) to your entire body and a nickel-sized amount to your face. Also, always remember to apply SPF to your ears, lips, backs of the hands and fingers, and tops of the feet and toes.

The best UVA and UVB protection comes from zinc oxide or titanium oxide, found in most non-toxic and natural sunscreens. Physical sunscreens block or deflect the sun’s damaging light and have come a long way since the white-striped noses of the past. Now many mineral sunscreens are made using nanoparticles so they won’t leave your face all chalky and white, won’t break down in the sun, will provide UVA and UVB protection, and won’t compromise your health.

Want to know more? These are the top 5 spots that are likely to get burnt.

Chemical sunscreens are the most common type of sun protection product. These effective lotions and sprays are silky smooth, absorb well, and have a pleasant fragrance. But while these formulations feel great and don’t leave your skin looking chalky like some mineral sunscreens, chemical filters can contain toxic ingredients that are known hormone-distruptors, irritants, and can cause allergic reactions. Most chemical sunscreens contain two of the following active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. If you want to use a chemical sunscreen but are concerned with high toxicity ingredients, avoid products that contain oxybenzone, octinoxate (octylmethoxycinnamate), and benzophenone-3.

Sunscreen sprays are very popular, perhaps because of the ease of application or because they aren’t as messy as lotions. However, these easy-to-apply products cannot be guaranteed to cover the skin as effectively as a cream product – you’re likely not applying enough or it goes on unevenly compromising sun protection. Another reason to ditch the spray is that they pose an inhalation risk. So do as the Environmental Working Group recommends and avoid spray sunscreens and stick to cream-based products instead.

If you're looking for something a little more natural, check out the 17 best natural products currently available in Canada.

While people with light skin, hair and eyes are more prone to visible sun damage, people with all skin types are susceptible to skin cancers. Jamaican singer Bob Marley died of melanoma at just 36 years old. So no matter your skin type, always protect it by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

See more: this is how beauty standards differ around the world.

Just because you’ve got yourself an SPF 50 doesn’t mean it will offer greater protection than an SPF 30. In fact, often times people get lazy when using a higher number – they apply it once thinking it’ll last all day when sunscreen should be reapplied regularly throughout the day and especially after swimming or sweating. Another common mistake is applying less SPF 50 thinking a little will go a long way. Any SPF number between 30 and 50 will give you adequate sun protection, as long as it is used correctly.

See more: 10 summer makeup tricks that will change your beauty routine forever.

Most bottles of sunscreen are stamped with an expiry date. Never use sunscreen that is past its expiry date – you simply can’t know if it’s still effective and it’s definitely not worth the risk. If your bottle or tube doesn’t have an expiry date, write the month and year you purchased it, in permanent marker, on the bottle and discard it after three years.

RELATED: 10 foods you can still eat after the expiry date.

A less than ideal side effect of pregnancy is your sensitivity to the sun. You can burn much more easily while pregnant and yet want to avoid chemical sunscreens. The best advice is to stay out of the sun by finding shade and wear a broad-brimmed hat. Get yourself a pregnancy-friendly sunscreen that contains zinc oxide — it’ll be a bit more laborious to apply but totally worth it.

See more: 10 things every pregnant woman actually needs.

Some sunscreens may be water-resistant but none are waterproof or sweat-proof, which is why it is vital to reapply every 40 to 80 minutes when swimming or exercising in the sun.

RELATED: 20 heatproof products that will save you on hot summer days.