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As the video mentions, the web is inundated with home remedies, with making your own sunscreen high on the list. Understandable, when the ingredients seem natural, or organic and over the counter products are expensive.
Unfortunately, DIY approaches don’t work, as a recent US study found. Researchers looked at a number of home made sunscreen suggestions on Pinterest, they failed to offer sufficient UV protection and a few examples would make sunburn worse.
Belief in them is essentially a myth, along with others solutions which make sense in a way but do not hold up to inspection.
Common Misunderstandings
Millions of people are staying at home, to help curb the spread of coronavirus. They may feel being indoors means safety from the sun.
Glass windows do block UVB rays but not UVA, which penetrate into deeper skin levels and cause greater issues, from early ageing, to skin cancer. Sitting in a sunny room, or in front of a window all day is not much safer than being in the sun.
When summer is over, or the day is overcast, people tend to believe they are safe and there is no need for sun protection.
Although the season and level of sunshine makes a difference, this is not sufficient to offer protection in itself. Even winter sunshine can cause skin damage and UV rays can penetrate clouds at any time of year.
Vitamin D is important to our health and comes from sun exposure, not hard to believe that sunscreen will create vitamin deficiency.
Three separate, recent studies have confirmed that the use of sunscreen has little impact on vitamin D levels in most people. Neither is high exposure needed, around 15-30 minutes a few times a week should be sufficient.
How Sunscreen Is Used
Another misconception can be caused by protection factor ratings on sunscreen containers, even when we choose wisely, at factor 30+ and 4 star+ UVA cover.
A number of studies, including a recent one by King’s College London found that many people apply sunscreen more thinly than manufacturers recommend. To the point where less than half of the stated protection is given.
The “teaspoon rule” is a fair guide for sunscreen application. Use half a teaspoon for each arm, or your face, a full teaspoon for each leg, or your chest, or back. Renew every couple of hours, or after swimming, or sweating.
Apart from the doubtful view that a tan is healthy, a belief that being tanned protects and you don’t need sunscreen is equally misplaced. A tan will not stop further DNA damage and potential skin cancer, the same protection is needed.
Add in good quality sunglases, protective clothing, the use of a wide brimmed hat and avoiding sunbeds at all costs, then you are good to go. Above all, use sunscreen well, you will stay younger and healthier.