Should I Use Sunscreen This Weekend?

With the upcoming 4th of July weekend you may be planning various outdoor activities from taking the boat out on the lake, to swimming, or just relaxing outside. Whatever activities you have planned, don't forget about the sunscreen! Many people hesitate to wear sunscreen because they are hoping to get a tan. While sunscreen may prevent some color, wearing sunscreen still allows you to get a tan and will help prevent rays from causing skin cancer.

It is best to have sunscreen with at least SPF 30. SPF stands for sun protection factor- meaning the higher the SPF the more protection. The SPF in sunscreen helps your body's defense against the two types of sun rays (UVA and UVB). This means a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 provides about 30 times more protection of your skin than without sunscreen.

Broad spectrum sunscreen protects both UVA and UVB rays. On average, sunscreen lasts about two hours before you should reapply but should be more frequent if you are sweating or in the water. It may not give you as much of a tan as you are hoping for but it will help prevent those painful sunburns and save your skin in the long run!