UV Awareness Month – UV Rays and Sunscreens

UV Rays and Sunscreens:

SPF (Sun Protection Factor), is a measure of how much protection a sunscreen provides the skin from UVB rays. UVB rays are known to cause sunburn, damage skin, and are known to contribute to skin cancer.

The way a sunscreen works is if your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure, applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 would allow you to stay in the sun and prolong the time it takes to get a sunburn for approximately 150 minutes (a factor of 15 times longer).

Make sure your sunscreen has an SPF of 30 or higher and is a broad spectrum SPF. Make sure you reapply sunscreen after you swim or every 2 hours to make sure your skin is protected from the sun at all times.