Sunscreen is essential for skin care and to avoid melanomas. But did you know that most people don’t apply it correctly? Misuse can leave many areas of skin unprotected. Here are the most common mistakes made:
- Not using enough
A tip: two fingers of cream for each area of the body (face, neck, chest, stomach, arm, forearm…). Applying too much does not harm your skin in any way.
- Not reapplying
Even if it is waterproof, cream should be applied every 1-2 hours, as it is lost through sweating, bathing, towelling or rubbing against the sand.
- Using sprays for the first application
Despite their convenience, they are not the best choice for initial applications, as the product dissipates in the air. It is therefore best to use them in reapplications during sun exposure and to apply 6 sprays for the face and 12 sprays for each area of the body.
- Avoiding key areas
Remember your lips (use lip balm with SPF), as well as your ears, back of your neck, hands, knees, knee creases, feet, and forefoot.
- Not understanding the factor number
It indicates the time it takes for the redness or burn to appear. This also depends on skin sensitivity. So, if without sunscreen you can last 10 minutes without getting sunburnt, with a factor 30 sunscreen you will last 30 times longer. It is advisable to use a factor higher than 30.
- Not paying attention to the type of protection
Sunscreen must have protection against UVA and UVB ultraviolet radiation.
- Not using it so that you get a tan
It is important to remember that tanning is a defence mechanism of the skin against an external factor that damages it, so it is not synonymous with health. Bearing this in mind, if you apply sunscreen you will still get a tan, albeit more slowly, as the cream does not completely prevent the absorption of radiation.
- Not applying it every day
Radiation is present all year round, even in the shade.
Other measures include wearing sunglasses, hats, umbrellas, hydrating properly, not exposing yourself to the sun in the middle of the day, and staying in the shade whenever possible.
