Health Matters...by Dr. Steve Krause
Sunscreens protect us from the ravages of excessive sun by blocking ultra-violet rays. Those rays are strongest when the sun is high in the sky-the most important time to protect your skin!
The incidence of skin cancer and aging would drop dramatically if everybody used sunscreen judiciously.
If you are going to be out for more than an hour (even less for those of you who sunburn easily), use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher.
Find a sunscreen you like the feel of—so you will be more likely to use it! Guys sometimes prefer gels to creams or lotions. Personally, I avoid sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide because they always leave you with a white ghostly look and they rub or sweat off easier than other sunscreens. Also, ultra-high sunscreens in the 80 SPF range are often too thick and “un-spreadable” for my liking.
Apply your sunscreen before you leave the house in order to let it soak into your skin, before you get wet, or start sweating. Be generous with the amount you apply – a thin coat does not render the SPF protection listed on the bottle.
Sunscreen does completely block the UV-induced creation of Vitamin D in your skin – so if you are an avid user, you better take Vitamin D supplementation.
Pick a sunscreen and use it! Any of them are better than nothing!
