Sunscreen 101: Your guide to summer sunscreen and sunburn

NEW YORK (CNN) – Whether you're planning a day at the beach or an outdoor picnic this summer, be sure to put sunscreen on your to-do list.

In the United States, exposure to UV rays is the most preventable risk factor. But according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2014, more than one-third of adults reported having sunburn, the skin's natural response to UV damage, year-round former.

Here's What You Need to Know Protect your skin from damage.

A common misconception is that the only way to protect yourself from UV rays is to wear sunscreen, says Dawn Holman, a behavioral scientist in the CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. Instead, she recommends using a "layered approach": combine the sunscreen with shadows and wear clothes made of tight fabrics, sunglasses and hats to wide edges.

UVA rays have two forms: causing premature aging of the skin known as photoaging, and UVB rays, which typically cause skin cancers and sunburns. SPF, abbreviation of sun protection factor, is a measure of protection against UVB radiation without taking into account the UVA radiation.

SPF is essentially an additional sun protection calculation gives its wearer compared to bare skin, says Dr. Alexandra Kuritzky, a dermatologist in Vancouver and clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of Toronto. University of British Columbia.

"It's a multiplier, and it's unique to the individual, because if an individual could, say, spend 30 minutes before the sunburns, their product SPF 30, for example, will protect them longer than an individual who burns after 10 minutes of sun exposure, "she added.

But the US Food and Drug Administration versus the thought of SPF with regard to the sun exposure time.On the contrary, it relates to the amount of sun exposure that the wearer gets.

Another way of thinking about SPF is as a percentage of Blocked UVB rays: an SPF of 15 blocks about 93 percent of UVB radiation, while an SPF of 30 blocks about 97 percent.This means that the relative benefit of using a higher SPF decreases as the number goes up.

Still, the FDA and the CDC recommend choosing a sunscreen with at least one SPF of 15, while the American Academy of Dermatology suggests at least an SPF of 30.

Holman considers the recommendation of the FDA and the CDC as a bare minimum. "It's a situation where you want to know your skin," she said, adding that an individual with fair skin might want to use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or 50. [19659002OfcoursesunscreenrespectsitsFPSonlywhenitisappliedcorrectlyandmostpeopledonotapplyenoughAnounceofsunscreensufficienttofillashotglassisconsideredtheamountneededtocoverexposedareasofthebodyaccordingtotheAmericanAcademyofDermatologyHerecommendsapplyingsunscreenondryskin15minutesbeforegoingoutside

For a vaporized sunscreen, an ounce can be hard to estimate, so Kuritzky says to apply it "as if you were painting," making sure to rub it with your hands afterwards and taking care to avoid inhaling the product.

The FDA regulates the formulation that sunscreen manufacturers can affix on the labels of their products, but several studies have shown that most consumers do not know language

When you choose sunscreen, it is important to know what kind of sun protection the product will give you. "Broad spectrum" means that the product can protect against UVA and UVB radiation.

You will also want to know when you need to reapply, especially if you plan to swim or sweat. "Water Resistant" means that the sunscreen provides protection for 40 minutes, while "very water resistant" means twice as long, or 80 minutes. Generally, however, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends reapplying sunscreen about every two hours. In 2011, the FDA banned manufacturers from labeling sunscreens as "waterproof" because all sunscreens eventually wash off.

Sunscreens can also advertise a "physical" or "chemical" protection, with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide – between your skin and the sun, or chemical – with l & # 39; oxybenzone or octinoxate, for example. While early sunscreens offered purely physical protection (think of the white cream that rescuers put on their noses), most moderns combine physical and chemical protection for aesthetic purposes, Kuritzky says.

The active ingredients in sunscreens are regulated by the FDA. FDA approved sunscreens are safe for adults and children over 6 months of age. However, Dr. Dawn Davis, a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic, told CNN that people with sensitive or allergic skin might prefer sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because they are usually hypoallergenic.

not to be worn by infants under 6 months, suggesting instead to keep them in the shade and avoid exposure to the sun from 10 am to 2 pm, when the rays UV are the strongest.

But what if you do not apply sunscreen at the right time, or in the right amount and now you can go home with a sunburn?

To treat a sunburn, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, previously said that you should take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug counter like ibuprofen or aspirin.

Then rinse with cold water and use a moisturizer over the next few days to replenish the dehydrated skin. Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking water and eating moisturizing foods.

Myth of sunscreen # 1: Sunscreen is important only sometimes.

People must use sunscreen all year or shine: Skin protection can be vital even indoors, Kuritzky said. Glazing glass blocks UVB rays, but UVA rays can still penetrate, which over time causes thickening and wrinkling of the skin.

And this is not a type of person who should focus on sunscreen. We see everywhere, no matter the race or the ethnicity of someone, the need for sunscreen, "she added

. However, some age groups burn more often than others. More than half of American high school students reported a sunburn in 2014, compared to one-third of adults, according to the CDC. The use of sunscreen could play a role in this statistic: the same study found that only 13% of girls and 7% of boys regularly used sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher when they were out on a sunny day.

Solar Myth # 2: I can get a healthy tan.

According to Holman, there is no healthy tan.

"We know that a tan is a sign that your skin has been damaged, it's actually the way your skin has shown that it has been damaged and it has warned that, I have too much exposure to the sun, "she said.

Burning sunburns in adolescence and early adulthood can dramatically increase the risk of skin cancer, but do not let the memories terrible sunburns discourage you from protecting your skin. those who think back to their childhood and early in their adult lives and say, "Oh, I've already been damaged, what is the point t? we know that even from today could still make a difference and could improve the health of your skin, "said Holman.

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