There are a lot of people who are not quite sure of the best way to go about choosing the right sunscreen lotion and SPF level. At one time, it was believed that 15 SPF was enough to give proper UV protection with most conditions. In the last decade or so, there has been some changes to that school of thought. How can you tell if you are picking the right sunscreen for the particular situation?
It is always ideal to go with a sunscreen that is able to block enough of the UV rays from the sun to protect your skin type. For example, if you happen to have skin that is sensitive or very fair, if there is a history of skin cancer, or when you normally take medications that are photo-sensitizing in nature, you will need to think about a higher SPF level. Additionally, when you are going to be exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, you should go with a higher SPF.
Knowing how to choose sunscreen lotion will also depend on who it is for. If you have a baby or a toddler, he or she is going to have differing sun protection needs than you. By the same token, someone who has had good success with a sunscreen lotion that is made for dry skin may not be able to use the same kind of lotion that someone with rosacea or acne may use.
In terms of the length of exposure to the sun, you could get away with a sun protection factor of about SPF 15 if you will only be outside and exposed for minutes at a time. For any prolonged or intense exposure, you should be looking at a water resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 or greater.
Selecting The Right Sunscreen Lotion
