Is expired sunscreen OK to use or should you get a new bottle? Find out and learn more about expired sunscreen at HowStuffWorks
Cover Up
About one million Americans were diagnosed with some form of skin cancer
in 2005. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the disease
makes up one in three cancers diagnosed in this country. Fortunately,
there is plenty you can do to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.
One of the best things you can do is cover up. The sun's rays are
most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Stay indoors during this time,
or if you must be outdoors, cover up and wear sunscreen.
The Skin Cancer Foundation says that hats and clothing made of dark,
tightly woven materials absorb ultraviolet light better than cotton
fabrics in lighter shades. Dry fabrics offer more protection than wet
ones
Spread on Sunscreen
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF)
of at least 15. Be sure to spread it on thick enough: Applying only a
thin coating of a sunscreen can reduce the effectiveness of the product
by as much as 50 percent. Waterproof sunscreen is best if you'll be swimming
Apply Early and Often
Apply sunscreen
20 to 30 minutes before exposure to allow the skin to absorb it. And
reapply it every two hours -- more often if you're sweating or getting
wet. If you have fair skin, you might even want to begin preparing for
sun exposure the night before by putting on a layer of sunscreen before
bed; this will allow it to be thoroughly absorbed into the skin's outer
layer. Then apply the usual coat of sunscreen the next day, about a half
hour before you go outside.
The sun can also burn the sensitive skin on the lips just as easily
as it fires the rest of your body. At worst, the damage can lead to skin
cancer. Use a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply often
Protect Your Ears
Too often, people forget to protect sensitive spots like the tops of the
ears, the hairline, the "V" of the chest, the nose and the hands. The
Skin Cancer Foundation says 80 percent of skin cancers
occur on the head, neck and hands. The Foundation therefore recommends
that you wear a hat made of a tightly woven fabric such as canvas rather
than one of straw and that you wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 on your hands and other exposed areas.
Mind the Nose and Feet
Protruding horizontal surfaces like the nose present special sun
protection problems. Lifeguards often wear zinc oxide paste on their
nose, but it only provides an SPF of about seven. Instead, apply a sunscreen
with an SPF of at least 15, let it soak in a few minutes, and then, for
maximum protection, apply the zinc oxide paste. And if you'll be going
shoeless, you'd be wise to use the same level of protection on the tops
of your feet.