7 fatal mistakes when applying sunscreen that need to be corrected immediately

Using the wrong sunscreen can damage your skin even with the best products.
Not using enough sunscreen

Applying too little sunscreen leads to a lower SPF that prevents the skin from receiving optimal protection from UV rays. As recommended, the amount of sunscreen the size of the palm is enough for the body. As for the face, you should apply a dime-sized amount of sunscreen. Don’t reapply sunscreen often To protect your skin, reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours. (Illustration) Sunscreen, whether applied or sprayed, degrades after 2 hours of use in the sun. If exposed to water or sweat a lot, the above time will be shortened. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly reapply sunscreen. When reapplying sunscreen, you can use makeup remover to remove the previous layer. If you’re wearing makeup, use a powder sunscreen to reapply. Skip important areas Many women think that only the skin exposed to the sun must apply sunscreen without knowing that UV rays can penetrate clothes and different layers of thick and thin fabrics. If sunscreen is not applied to the entire body, many other areas of skin can still be damaged as usual. In addition, note two places people often do not pay attention to protect when going out in the sun: eyelids and lips. The lips are especially vulnerable because they don’t have a lot of melanocytes, a protective pigment responsible for giving color to skin, hair and eyes. The more hydrated your lips are, the easier it is for UV rays to penetrate deeper into unprotected skin. For lips, you can use lip balm with SPF over 30. Do not follow instructions for use For chemical sunscreen to be effective, it needs to be applied to the skin at least 20 minutes before going outside because the skin needs time to absorb the protective ingredients. It is recommended to apply evenly and thoroughly on the skin before wearing clothes to avoid any traces or stains of cream on the clothes. Particularly for products with 2 physical sunscreen ingredients – titanium oxide and zinc oxide – will work immediately after application. So with a physical sunscreen, you don’t have to wait for the sunscreen ingredients inside to take effect. Use opened sunscreen for a long time When unopened, sunscreen usually has a shelf life of about 2-3 years. However, once used, this time is reduced to about 6 months. You should not use sunscreen that has expired, has a change in texture, color or scent because it can cause allergies and damage to the skin. Do not pay attention to the spectrum index on sunscreen Many sunscreens only work against UVB rays, the cause of sunburn. Meanwhile, UVA rays also bring many harmful effects. Carrying a longer wavelength than UVB rays, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, destroying collagen structures and leading to skin aging. For maximum skin protection, look for sunscreens that have broad-spectrum formulas (on the packaging that say “broad-spectrum”) that block UVA and UVB rays. For sunscreens that use the PA character, choose a product that has the PA character with plus signs after +++ or more. Using sunscreen that is not suitable for your skin Sunscreen only works when you choose the right product, suitable for your skin characteristics. Should choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 20 – 30 for light skin, an SPF of less than 20 for dark skin, if you want to increase protection in the harsh sun, only use a sunscreen with SPF 30 50 is the best fit. People with acne-prone skin should use the spray form. This type both protects the skin and unclogs the pores, helping the skin not to be blocked by dust and sweat. Sensitive skin, prone to allergies should choose sunscreen that does not contain paraaminobenzoic acid (PABA). Like other cosmetics, improper use of sunscreen is not only ineffective, it can even cause unfortunate damage to the skin. If you are making the above mistakes, you need to correct them immediately to have smooth, healthy skin this summer. Minh Hoa (th)