Pick the right suncreen

Summers are back and so are the worries of getting tanned. Here're five tips to choose a perfect sunscreen:

Summers are back and so are the worries of getting tanned. Here're five tips to choose a perfect sunscreen:

1 Differentiate first: Know the difference between a sunscreen and a sunblock. A sunscreen has Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or less and it will take 15 times longer to burn your skin. While a sunblock has an SPF of 30 or more.

2 High protection: If you have a fair skin, are at a high altitude, near the equator or you need to be outside on a hot sunny day between 10m to 4pm, Go for a sunblock with SPF 30 or higher. Lighter-skinned people need more sun protection.

3 Decode SPF: Be aware of the protection you will get from your sunscreen. A sunscreen with SPF 15 provides a 94% to 95% UVB rays coverage and SPF 28 gives you up to 96% coverage.

4 Must check: Make certain that your sunscreen is marked ‘broad spectrum’ to shield against both UVA (ultraviolet-A) and UVB (ultraviolet-B) rays. Over exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases your risk of basal-cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

5 Skin type: Keep in mind your skin type before selecting your sunscreen. If you have a sensitive skin and are allergic to certain skin products, opt for fragrance-free and hypoallergenic sunscreen. Do a patch test to verify that the sunscreen is non-allergic.

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