It turns out that so far, most people do not apply the necessary amount of cream. And the consequences can be more serious than you think.
Ask all the beauticians and dermatologists in the world what is the first thing you need to do before stepping out in the daytime? Definitely apply sunscreen.
Sunscreen has a protective layer that helps block the amount of UV (ultraviolet) rays in sunlight. Not only for healthier and more beautiful skin, but also to avoid the risk of skin cancer, because UV rays are extremely powerful carcinogens.
However, according to a new study, there is a very disturbing fact, which is that most of us are applying sunscreen the wrong way .
Most of us are applying sunscreen the wrong way.
All are based on the SPF (sun protection factor) . The higher the SPF, the better the ability to block UV rays.
The first sunscreen product appeared in the mid-19th century. And you know what, its SPF is only 2.
Six decades later, science has made remarkable strides. We have sunscreens that are water-resistant, spray-on, that last much longer. And there are even creams with SPF up to 100.
Most of us only get about 40% of the protection that sunscreen actually provides.
Only, according to research from King’s College London, over the years, almost all of us have used the wrong way.
In fact, everyone knows that sunscreen should be applied to every part that is likely to be exposed to light. But the problem is the thickness of the cream , a lot of people are doing it wrong. According to research, most only get about 40% of the protection that sunscreen actually provides.
” We’ve been using too little sunscreen, “ said Antony Young, professor of photobiology and study author. “For example, if you use a cream with SPF20 but only apply it with a thickness of 0.75mg/ cm2 , the protective effect is only equal to that of SPF4 cream.”
This is a really scary result. Many previous studies have shown that exposure to ultraviolet rays – even small ones – can cause skin damage and increase the likelihood of cancer forming.
Exposure to the sun will cause more serious skin damage.
According to Professor Young, the number needed is about 2mg/ cm2 skin. It’s a little hard to imagine, but it’s about twice as much as what you’re used to. In addition, each body part needs a different amount of cream.
Also, in theory, sunscreen with SPF15 should be enough to protect you from the sun. However, the actual sunlight has different UV densities over time and place, plus we don’t apply the cream correctly. So to be on the safe side, we should use a cream with an SPF of 30 or higher.
The study was published in the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica.