Expert: most people don’t use sunscreen properly
Posted Jun 9, 2016 12:34 pm.
Last Updated Jun 9, 2016 10:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
How effective is your sunscreen?
While both mineral and chemical sunscreens protect you from potentially harmful rays, UBC Professor Sunil Kalia says mineral based is your best bet.
“Physical sunscreens, or physical blocks, they contain usually titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and they do over quite well providing protection against the whole UV spectrum,” said Kalia.
He adds, while chemical based sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays and converting them to heat later released by the skin, mineral sunscreens block UV rays all together.
Although most people are good about using sunscreen, many don’t use enough. He suggests using a higher SPF to cover the difference.
“An SPF of 15 or 30 would be good if it was placed on properly but, the problem is, we under apply sunscreen and therefore we recommend a higher SPF of at least 60.”
Despite the myths, Kalia says sunscreen is always a good idea, since it is highly effective in preventing all forms of skin cancer.
