Your Sunscreen Questions Answered (+Giveaway!)

Summer is the season when everyone heads outside – To the pool, the park, the beach, or the ball game. And it seems that one of Summer’s number one “accessories” – that one thing that everyone seems to be wearing – is sunscreen. Although everyone is wearing it, there are a lot of questions and misconceptions about sunscreen. Thanks to a very helpful article on iderma.com about how sunscreen really works, I have some answers to your sunscreen questions.

How does sunscreen work?

Answer: Sunscreen absorbs, reflects, and scatters UV rays. Chemical ingredients in sunscreen absorb UV light and prevent it from damaging your skin.

What SPF should I use?

Answer: The higher the SPF number, the better protection you gain from the harmful effects of UVB rays. The SPF number only refers to a sunscreen’s performance against UVB rays, as there is no current rating system for protecting UVA rays. The SPF number on a sunscreen label is typically between 2 and 50. Scientists claim that SPF 30 sunscreen absorbs approximately 97 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 15 absorbs about 93 percent.

What is Paraben-Free?

Answer: Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is an ingredient once commonly found in all sunscreens, but it is removed from many of today’s new scientific formulas. It was found that PABA caused photosensitivity, allergic reactions and potentially stained your clothes. That sounds like a lose-lose situation. When purchasing sunscreen this summer, make sure to check the label to ensure that it is paraben-free.

What is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock?

Answer: Sunscreens chemically absorb UV rays, and sunblocks deflect them.

How Can Sunscreen Be Waterproof?

Answer: There is a multitude of sunscreens that claim they are “waterproof”, but that is not quite accurate. All sunscreens lose a certain threshold of effectiveness when skin is submerged in water. Sunscreens that are labeled as “waterproof”, “sweat-proof”, or “extreme” include ingredients that help lotions bond more closely to the skin. But even those brands will lose effectiveness with prolonged exposure to water or abundant sweating. It is recommended by experts to reapply sunscreen regularly. Renewed application every 90 minutes is a good habit to form.

What is the difference between UVA and UVB?

Answer: (ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B) More potent than UVA in producing sunburn, UVB rays are considered the main cause of basal and squamous cell carcinomas as well as a significant cause of melanoma. Although less likely than UVB to cause sunburn, UVA penetrates the skin more deeply, and is considered the chief culprit behind wrinkling, leathering, and other aspects of “photoaging.”

What are the worst hours for sun exposure?

Answer: The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you limit your sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

And now for the exciting part! Below you will find an interactive widget with select products from iDerma.com. If you follow the simple steps below (in the rules section) you will have the chance to win one of the products featured in the widget. The best part is that YOU get to chose! Flip through the widget. Explore some products. Tell me what you think, if you’ve tried any of them in the past, or if you’d love to in the future.

Contest Rules and Details:

* The winner of the contest will receive one (1) free product of their choice from the iDerma products contained in the widget (up to $147.50 value)
* The winner will be chosen by me, based on the quality and helpfulness of the comments that you contribute about widget products.
* In order to qualify to win:

• * You must comment on at least 5 products in the widget.
• * You must click the “See It” link in the widget below to read about each of the 5+ products you commented on.
• * You must make all 5 product comments in the widget (not at the bottom of the post or on iDerma’s site).
  * You must leave contact information in the form of a name and email address so that I can contact you should you win. For this step, simply leave a comment on this post (below) stating which product you would love to win.

* For extra chances to win, you may tweet or post on Facebook with a link back to this giveaway. Can be done once per day through the contest period.

# Comments within the widget can be up to 500 characters (the widget will not accept more than this)
# Contest Ends on Monday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Only open to US residents.

Disclosure: I was given the chance to chose an item from the iDerma widget before writing this post. I chose the gloMinerals finishing powder for my unevenly toned skin. I had heard other people raving about mineral makeup and so I was eager to give it a try. This powder did not disappoint! It goes on smoothly and evenly and covers my blotchiness beautifully. The experience that I had with the glominerals finishing powder did not effect the outcome of my post.

PS–Have you heard? Better in Bulk has been nominated for a BlogLuxe Award for the “Blog You’ve Learned the Most From.” Although I am up against some amazing blogs that I LOVE, I would still love any votes I can get (and, yes, you can vote daily!)

© 2010, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

About Lolli

Lolli has written 3740 post in this blog.

I became a mom in 1996, and in 2005 I had my fifth. Yes, 5 kids. In 2007, this blog was born (my 6th baby that will never grow up) and I've been sharing recipes, photography tricks, parenting tips, and everything in between. (Formerly Better in Bulk)

• View all posts by Lolli →
• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook