The Truth About UV's and Sunscreen Products

Finally, summer's here and the prospects of getting out and enjoying the sun can't come soon enough. It's time for sports and beach parties and tanlines. It's difficult to understand how the sun we find so stimulating can be so damaging. The fact is that overexposure to the sun is causing a huge spike in skin cancer rates so that one in six Americans will be diagnosed in their lifetime, and over one million this year alone.

So what to do? How can you benefit from the sun responsibly? It's time is right to shed a little light on the specific effects of UV's on skin. It is our obligation at About Face 4 Men to make sure you make educated choices in sun protection.


The Effects

UV exposure from the sun and YES, tanning beds, is without a doubt the biggest culprit in premature aging. Prolonged exposure to UV's leads to breakdown of DNA, causing breakdown of collagen and elastin, and greatly increasing the risk of skin cancer. The U.S. Dept. of Health has added UV radiation to its latest list off cancer-causing substances. Besides that, it's just fine.


Types of UV's

UVA's make up 90% of the rays reaching the earth since they're not fully blocked by the ozone layer. They penetrate deeper than UVB, cause damage to collagen and elastin in the dermis, cause fine lines and wrinkles, photoaging, uneven pigmentation and contribute to skin cancer including melanoma. UVA's penetrate glass and water so wear your sunglasses and water resistant SPF. On the upside, UVA rays aid photosynthesis of plants so we have food!

UVB's can also be our friend as they stimulate necessary Vitamin D production in our bodies. The bad news is they're also considered the cause of sunburn, basal and squamous cell skin cancers, and contribute to melanoma. UVB's are present in fluorescent light and are especially strong in tanning booths. You should wear SPF if you work in a fluorescent environment.


Recommendations

A good SPF formulation should provide "broad-spectrum" protection - the capability to protect against UVA as well as UVB. Recommended ingredients to look for are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or avobenzone. A broad spectrum sunscreen provides the protection from melanoma you need when used properly. If your sunscreen does not have it, you may get skin cancer, or your dermatologist will get rich off of you. Simple.

You should use apply a minimum SPF 15 at least 20 minutes before exposure so the sunscreen "sets up" on the skin and does it's job correctly.


Misconceptions about sunscreen products

The biggest problem with SPF's is the perception that sunscreen is a general commodity such as gasoline. Customers reach for the cheapest brand without looking at the ingredients. The truth is all sunscreens are not the same. There is a vast difference in popular drugstore brands and professional formulations such as About Face 4 Men Protect SPF 20. The most popular "sport, ultra sweatproof, waterproof SPF" contains 14 ingredients, mostly chemicals, binding agents, and fragrance.


The Professionals choice

PROTECT is the only product with the "SPF Complex" of 4 sunscreen ingredients, including two broad spectrum protective ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. 30 additional ingredients penetrate the skin such as Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid to moisturize and soften, Niacin and Melanine to boost the natural protective response of the skin and botanical extract anti-oxidants that inhibit free radical damage.


Conclusion

Some final thoughts to keep in mind: Men spend much more time in the sun working and playing than the fairer sex. We're going to live much longer than our parents so we need to do more to make sure we look better, longer. The sun is uncontrollable and immeasurable on any given day, so always be prepared and safe. The sun is at war with your skin - defend yourself with PROTECT SPF 20.

Click Here to view About Face 4 Men - Protect SPF 20