Have you ever wondered if that thick, white, pasty lotion you use during the summer is actually doing what it says on the container?  Well if you’re most people, it may not be.  Protecting your skin is a tricky business and a confusing one at that, so I’ve tried to simplifiy the sunscreen/sunblock, SPF, and UVA/UVB conundrum so you can be confidant in your sunscreen.

In order to choose a correct sunscreen, you need to understand the differences between UVA and UVB rays.  UVA (ultraviolet-A) are long-wave solar rays that are less likely to cause sunburn; however, they penetrate the skin more deeply and contribute the most to photo-aging.  Recent studies also show that UVA increase UVB’s cancer-causing effects.  UVB (ultraviolet-B) are short-wave solar rays that are more likely to sunburn; however, these rays are considered the main cause of basal and squamous cell carcinomas as well as significant cause of melanoma.

Now that you’re armed with UV information, let’s talk about the why some sun protection is called sunscreen or sunblock. (more…)