Summer means warm weather, long days at the Lake of the Ozarks, and yes, sunburns!
We all know people who tan and others who do nothing but burn. The most important thing to keep in mind in these glorious months is to protect your skin.
So, what’s SPF stand for anyways? It means “Sun Protection Factor”.
When you’re walking through Wal-Mart or Target, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the wide variety of sunscreen.
About.com gives us a little more insight into SPF:
A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB (or sun rays that penetrate the upper layers of skin). Put another way, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer.
Here are some sunscreen tips to keep in mind this summer:
- Buy a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30.
- Even though a sunscreen is water-resistant, be sure to re-apply at least every two hours (especially if you’re swimming in the lake)
- Be sure to apply sunscreen at least half an hour before going out in the sun.
- Look for the words “broad spectrum”, as it will do better at protecting your skin.
Protect your kids. Protect yourself. And have a whole lot of fun!! Summer was meant for memories to be made!
Do you have a favorite sunscreen?