“Two finger rule”, “A dollop of sunscreen every thirty minutes”, “Use nothing less than SPF 50”, “Reapply every thirty minutes”, these and many more quotes come to mind when we think of sunscreen.
Aren’t you tired of feeling confused about how much sunscreen you should actually use, and why we even need it in the first place? Well, you’re not the only one. That’s why we caught up with Dr Isima, an aesthetic physician at Precision, to give us all the tea about sunscreen.
So, doc, why should we use sunscreen in the first place?
Sunscreen is important for many reasons. The first is that it helps to prevent your skin from burning due to sun exposure. It also helps protect your skin from skin cancer and it prevents photoageing—a condition where a person begins to look older as a result of excess exposure to the sun.
Also, when people are treating skin conditions like hyperpigmentation and acne, their skin becomes more sensitive due to the products being used. In that state, the skin needs extra protection to prevent darkening. For those with darker skin tones, our bodies tend to respond to pressure or drama on the skin by darkening.
But how much sunscreen should we actually be applying?
The recommended amount is 2mg per cm³ of skin. That’s not so easy to measure this in everyday life, which is where the estimates come in: 2 tablespoons, a shot glass, or sunscreen spread across the length of your index and middle fingers. These are all estimates but should typically give a good measurement of the face. A trick is to build up this application. It can be challenging to apply in one go, so consider splitting it into two applications, 30 minutes apart, to achieve the ideal coverage.
Since sunscreen is so important, can I use any type?
There are various things to consider when choosing sunscreen, and one of the most important is your skin type. If you have oily skin, go for lightweight sunscreen. If your skin is dry, a heavier one works. One thing is non-negotiable: you should never use sunscreen with less than SPF 30.
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Why?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It measures how well a sunscreen will protect your skin from UVB rays. SPF 30 protects against 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 protects against 98%. The margin might seem small, but when it comes to your skin, you’ll want as much protection as possible. That’s why we say SPF 50 is the best bet for sun protection, but SPF 30 is far better than no SPF at all.
Another thing to understand is what the SPF number (15, 30, 50) means. If your skin would normally take 1 minute to burn without sunscreen, SPF 30 means it will now take 30 times longer, that is 30 minutes. However, everyone’s skin is different, so the time it takes to burn can differ. The higher the SPF, the longer you can go without reapplying it, but we advise reapplying every 2-3 hours during the day.
Why do we need reapply sunscreen?
Because sunscreen only protects the skin for a limited time before it loses its effectiveness. That’s why there’s a need for a top-up.
But won’t all that product cause buildup? And isn’t Nigeria too hot for this?
Yes, Nigeria is very hot, and sticking to a skincare can be challenging, especially during the dry season. That’s why it’s important to consider your lifestyle when choosing products. If you spend a lot of time outside, and in the sun, you can use lighter serums and swap your moisturiser for a hydrating sunscreen that does both jobs.
If you have access to running water, it’s best to cleanse your skin before reapplying sunscreen to remove oil and product buildup. But if you’re always on the move because of work or school, and don’t have time to cleanse and skincare redo, you can use a sunscreen that comes as a spray or sunstick for reapplication on the go. There are even sunscreen powders, though some of them don’t work well with darker-skin tones because of shade matches.
So basically, everyone should be using sunscreen and reapplying?
Yes, that’s exactly it, and not just for your face. It should be used on any area of your body that gets exposed to the sun or UVB rays.
