Essential Oils Skin Care Guide

Arguably the most important thing you can do to protect your skin’s condition is to protect it from the harmful UV rays of the sun by using sunblock.

According the to Skin Cancer Foundation over 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun and they recommend sunblock as the key weapon against skin cancer.

The sun’s rays consist of two types of ultraviolet light – UVA rays and UVB rays. UVB rays are responsible for sunburn while UVA rays penetrate the skin deeper and cause wrinkling and premature aging. A local weather forecast will also list a UV index, which takes into account local weather conditions and cloud cover that will affect the skin. The index ranges from zero to ten, with moderate risk weather conditions being between three and five.

In order to protect the skin from the sun one must make several precautions. Dermatologists recommend staying out of direct sunlight, wearing protective clothing (including a wide brimmed hat) and wearing a sunblock of SPF 15 of higher regardless of whether or not one is exposed to the sun.

SPF, Sun Protection Factor, is a measurement of the sunblock’s ability to protect against UV rays. For example, if it takes eight minutes for the skin to burn and an SPF of 10 were used then it will take 80 minutes for the skin to burn. If an SPF 15 is worn then it will take 120 for the skin to burn.

Dermatologists recommend an SPF above 15, which they say will filter out 92 percent of the sun’s rays while an SPF 30 will filter out 98 percent of the rays.

Most important perhaps is to purchase a sunblock that filters both UVA and UVB rays that your skin will be protected from sunburn and wrinkling. Also look for ones that are sweatproof or waterproof while noting that despite its promise to be water resistant, it will still need to be reapplied after swimming or sweating. Most clothes provide minimal protection from the sun with a regular cotton tee shirt providing an SPF of 3. Some hiking clothes that are made of zinc oxide provide a higher SPF of 30.

Shade provides some protection from the sun but harmful sunrays can reflect off of sand, snow, water and concrete. Sitting in the shade can provide protection, but remember to keep in mind these reflective surfaces. Reapplying sunblock will not only keep the skin from burning but it will protect it from wrinkling and early aging, giving you supple, younger looking skin.