- Expert dermatologists reveal the most common misconceptions about sunscreen creams
- These false beliefs can cause permanent skin damage, according to doctors
As the UK endures an unusually boring summer, many Brits have fallen victim to a common myth about sunscreen.
Due to the lack of a typical heat wave this year, many bottles of sunscreen were left untouched, and bottles of Factor 50 were completely discarded.
However, according to experts, succumbing to such misconceptions can cause permanent skin damage and pose serious harm to your health.
To help people stay safe in the sun, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed debunks the five most common misconceptions about sunscreen.
One common belief is that you don’t need to apply sunscreen on cloudy days or indoors.
talk to overpaidDr. Hamed explained, “Although the intensity may be lower than direct sunlight, UV rays can still penetrate clouds and even glass.”
“It’s always a good idea to wear SPF, even if the weather doesn’t look very nice.”
If you want to get a tan in the summer, forget the myth that you can’t tan while wearing sunscreen.
Dr. Hamad explained that while sunscreen creams can help protect against UV rays, they cannot completely block them.
She said: “Some UV rays can still penetrate and cause your skin to produce melanin, the pigment that causes sunburn.”
SPF 15 blocks approximately 93% of UV rays when applied well. This means that approximately 7% of the light rays pass through the skin. SPF 30 blocks 97% of light rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of rays.
This means that even if you wear sunscreen, you can still get a tan, although the amount of sunburn may be less.
Another common belief among sunbathers is that a base tan will make you less likely to burn.
For this reason, many vacationers strive to get a tan, mistakenly thinking that they can protect themselves from the sun.
However, Dr. Hamed said, “Base tan only provides protection of around SPF 2 to 4, which is not enough to prevent skin damage.” In fact, sunburn itself is a sign of skin damage from UV rays.
Whether you’re sunburned or not, you should always take precautions to protect yourself from the sun, such as applying plenty of sunscreen.
Another common myth, says Dr. Hamed, is that you don’t need to apply sunscreen if you’re wearing makeup that contains SPF.
Many Brits apply plenty of sunscreen, but often skip the final layer of protection by applying sunscreen to their faces.
However, skin experts said that cosmetics alone are not enough to prevent sun damage, as cosmetics usually do not contain the necessary amount of SPF to prevent skin damage.
“This is why it’s important to apply a sunscreen with an appropriate SPF under your makeup, even if your makeup contains SPF,” he said.
Another common myth among overcautious vacationers is that they think they can’t protect themselves from sunburn unless they wear factor 50 sunscreen.
Higher factor sunscreens offer more protection, but the difference is only marginal, experts said.
He explained, “SPF 50 blocks about 98% of UV rays, which is only 1% more than SPF 30, which blocks about 97%.”
Experts say no amount of sunscreen can completely prevent skin damage, so you need to take extra steps to stay safe.
To protect themselves from UV rays, Dr. Hamed advised people to take the following steps:
- Check your UV index regularly
- Seek shade and limit sun exposure
- wear protective clothing
- Please allow enough time for the sunscreen to absorb.