Exposure to the sun, contrary to what most people might think, is actually good for the body.  A daily dose of sun can be a big boost to a person’s health as it helps improve blood circulation, promotes detoxification by stimulating sweat, and kicks up metabolism. People also get vitamin D which is great for the skin, from sunlight.

But of course, there is a border line between healthy sun exposure and overexposure which can scald the skin and even cause cancer. There is a correct way to go about basking in the sun—and that involves applying sun screen before each exposure.

Sun block and Sunscreen

Too much fun in the sun without any proper protection from its harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is likely to cause skin damage. This is why it is highly important for one to keep in mind to apply and reapply sun block or sun screen through out the day.

There is a small difference between sun blocks and sunscreens. Sunscreens are milder than sun blocks in that they lose effectiveness a lot quicker than the latter. They will give adequate protection for activities like a morning walk, and other similar acts. Sun blocks, on the other hand, are ideal for a day at the beach. When one expects to really spend a whole day out in the sun, engaging in sports that really make people work up a sweat, then sun blocks are the way to go.

However, one can be assured that both sun blocks and sunscreens protect the skin from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are what cause wrinkles and the leathering of the skin. Meanwhile, UVB rays are known to cause sunburn. It is important to make sure that the sun lotion you are buying has UVA/UVB protection indicated in the package.

It is also important to get the right kind of sun block or sun screen based on the person’s skin type and the length of time he/she plans to stay out in the sun. The best way to know this is to refer to the lotion’s sun protection factor (SPF).

SPF indicates how long a person can stay in the sun without having to worry about sunburn relative to how long it takes for his/her skin to burn without lotion. If it takes 10 minutes for one’s skin to get sunburn, then an SPF 20 would mean that he/she could stay in the sun for 20 times longer than 10 minutes (about 3 hours and 20 minutes).