
“But I had sunblock on!”. This is a surprisingly common response from people unfortunate enough to have found themselves sunburnt after spending too much time in the sun. All too often the problem probably isn’t the quality of the sunblock, or how much and how often it was applied (more on that soon). It’s the over-reliance on sunblock as the only tool for protection, when in fact a whole tool kit is what’s always needed to stay safe in the sun.
No sunscreen (even our amazing Sol Goods sunscreen and zinc products) block 100% of UV radiation. They simply allow you to be outdoors for a longer time before your skin starts to burn.
Using sunscreen doesn't mean you can stay out in the sun for an unlimited amount of time. Damage to your skin cells is still taking place. To extend the amount of time you can safely stay in the sun you also need a physical barrier. The key message here is – cover up! Clothes thick enough to block the UV rays, wide brimmed hats, sun umbrellas, and any kind of shade are all your friends.
The other thing to consider is the UV Index at any given time of day. The UV Index tells us how strong the sun’s rays are in various locations and over different times of the day. When the UVI is 3 or above, we need to protect ourselves from the sun. If the UVI is low (under 3 – as typical in the winter months in Aotearoa), it’s pretty safe to be outdoors unprotected unless you are spending all day outside.
Anything over a UVI of 3, and you need to slip, slop, slap, wrap and seek shade. During a good old Kiwi summer, the UVI regularly reaches over 12, which is considered extreme, and fair skin without sun protection can burn in less than 15 minutes at these levels (versus a burn time of around one hour at a UVI of 3).
The UV Index climbs throughout the day and typically peaks in the mid-afternoon, so heading outdoors earlier or later in the day can be a smart way to beat mother nature and avoid the harshest sun rays, allowing you to stay outdoors longer, provided you are still using sun protection.
We’re a big fan of the SunSmart — UVNZ app to help keep tabs on the UV levels.
So, you’re off to a good start and you’ve packed your sun hat, rash vest, checked the UV Index AND applied your sunscreen, but is your sunscreen really working for you?
Make sure the sunscreen you are applying is doing the best job possible. The sun emits two kinds of ultraviolet radiation - UVA rays and UVB rays. UVB is the radiation more closely associated with skin cancer, whereas UVA is known for its skin damage and premature aging. Sunblock that protects against both - called broad spectrum - is best, we recommend anything with an SPF of at least 30.
Don’t forget that sunscreen has a best before date too – the active ingredients in sunblock can degrade over time – so fresh is best.
Apply enough sunscreen to work effectively. Use about half a teaspoon for the face and neck together, and a teaspoon each for your front, back, and each of your arms and legs.
Be careful not to miss any spots, and reapply every two hours or after sweating or swimming.
Have fun out there – play in the sun, then seek the shade!