Should I Choose Body Skin Care Containing Sunscreen?

Everyday, our body skin is exposed to sunlight. Sun exposure can cause aging, wrinkle and cancer. Our skin plays its role as the main barrier of protection for the entire body. Sunscreen is substances that block or absorb UV radiation before it can be absorbed by chromophores in the skin.So we need body skin care that contains sunscreen to protect our skin.

Sunlight has three forms: infrared (heat/invisible), visible light and ultraviolet. Ultraviolet light is classified into three categories: UVA (315 to 400 nm), UVB (280 to 315 nm), and UVC (100 to 280 nm). Ninety nine percent of the sun's UV radiation at sea level is UVA. UVA can causes tanning. UVB that causes most of the problems related to sun exposure: like aging, wrinkles and cancer.

The efficacy of a sunscreen is often defined by its sun protection factor (SPF). The SPF is the ratio of the time of ultraviolet exposure necessary to cause erythema with the sunscreen on to the time to erythema without the sunscreen. SPF values vary from 2 (minimal protection) to over 50.

Our body skin is made up of very specific cells and tissues. Skin has 3 layers - the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is located on the outer layer of skin. It is the thinnest of the layers and has no direct blood supply, instead is supported and fed by the dermis. Epidermis contains one inner layer is called the Malpighian layer, which creates the dead cells and is in direct contact with the dermis, which feeds and supports it. The Malpighian is the layer which gets affected during sun tanning.

The Middle Layer underneath supporting the epidermis is known as the dermis. It contains capillaries, which take care of the nutritional needs of the cells in the dermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous (oil) gland. In the subcutaneous layer of skin the blood vessels branch infinitely into the dermis to supply the sweat glands, hair follicles, sebaceous glands and erector muscles with blood.

I suggest some helpful tips to protect your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays

1. Limit exposure to the sun from 11 am to 4 pm - this is when the sun's rays are strongest.
2. Use body skin care that contains broad-spectrum sunscreens with active ingredients that block both UVA and UVB rays.
3. Sunscreen with SPF 15 in your skin care offers adequate protection for everyday use, including cloudy days.
4. To ensure efficiency of a sunscreen in your body skin care, reapplication is necessary after perspiration or exposure to water.

In the market you can choose natural skin product as your body skin care. There are some ingredients that have sunscreen purpose in body skin care.

Retno Kuswantoro is a pharmacist. As a pharmacist she often gives some advice to the patients about skin care products related to their skin problems. Find out her skin products guide. Providing the best information on the best skin aging, including skin care tips!