With the arrival of summer, many people resort to their creams from last year, but this could entail certain risks, according to experts told ‘Euronews’.
The arrival of summer and high temperatures They promote the return of a practice that brings together millions of followers around the world every year: sunbathe. However, this entails some risks if it is done without responsibility, which is why it is essential to use sunscreen.
This type of protection, according to experts, should use it all year roundalso in winter and not only when we sunbathe, even in our daily lives, since the ultraviolet radiation It is really harmful to our skin.
However, although the use of protector solar has increased in recent years and exists increasingly greater awareness, this is not always applied correctly. A series of guidelines must be followed when applying it, such as doing it “30 minutes before sun exposure in clean and dry skin and in a generous and uniform quantity“, explains to ‘Euronews’ Sonia Galeano, pharmacist and member of Dermopharmacy at the Official College of Pharmacists of Ávila.
How much sunscreen is recommended to apply?
It is important don’t skimp when it comes to applying it. The ideal, scientifically, is to apply two milligrams per square centimeter every two hours. However, Galeano shares with this medium a trick that It will always allow us to know whether or not we are using enough cream.
According to what is known as ‘two fingers rule’, A line of cream should be applied to the fingers of the hand: “The heart for the face, two fingers for each of the arms, four fingers for the trunk, another four for the back and also four for each of the legs.” “, details the pharmacist.
How often should you apply sunscreen?
Many times, bathers or vacationers on the beachesthey forget the importance of be consistent when applying sunscreen. It is of little use to cover our body with cream once and not reapply it after a certain time.
Sea water or even your own sweat make these lotions less effective. For this very reason “we must apply them every two hours, after each bath and in case of excessive sweating,” explains the Dermopharmacy member of the Official College of Pharmacists of Ávila.
Every time we bathe in the pool or on the beach we have to apply cream again. But there are also “some photoprotectors that allow their application on wet skin”, these are only effective when They are identified as ‘wet skin’ (‘wet skin’).
What does the protective factor of sunscreens mean?
From 20, 30 and even over 50. Sun creams They are identified with different numbers that have an unknown meaning for many. They do not exactly mean that a higher number protects us more from the sun. Rather, it indicates that that cream will protect us for longer.
“A protection factor 30 would be protecting 30 times more. That is, about 300 minutes, which would be about five hours.” But this It does not imply that in five hours we can ignore sunscreen, since “the effectiveness of the protector decreases due to water, sweat or friction,” Galeano insists.
What photoprotection factor should I use?
It is no coincidence that they were created different photoprotection factors for depending on what creams. These are intended for every skin type. Not everyone needs a factor of 50 or one of 30. Although these numbers tell us about the duration, “obviously one of 50 protects more against ultraviolet”.
Sonia Galeano explains to ‘Euronews’ that the factor we should use “will depend on the prototype of our skin according to a series of parameters such as the tone, the color of the hair or the color of the eyes. “Each of us is going to have a prototype that indicates the ability of our skin to adapt to the sun.”
Can we use last year’s sunscreen?
Like all products, Sunscreens also have an expiration date. In the case of these, two: one in case they have not been opened and another in case we have already used it.
The second, which is usually the one we must take into account, It is indicated by a number inside a figure that represents a boat open, this number is the months in which it can be used, usually six.
Therefore, a photoprotector ““It’s not valid from one year to the next.”says Galeano. The reason is that “the product oxidizes and deteriorates because many times we have left it in the car exposed to high temperatures.” All this makes it possible to appear “microbial contamination” that affects our skin, which is why we should forget about our cream from last year and throw it away.
Where can I throw sunscreen?
We have to get rid of expired creams, yes. But can I throw it in the trash can? These products can be harmful to the environment when they are not ecological, damaging marine ecosystems and even coral reefs. For that reason we must follow a series of guidelines when throwing them away.
Experts say it is important recycle cosmetic containers in general, also these. The first thing to observe, they indicate from Ecoembesis to identify what type of packaging it is.
“Plastic packaging, which is very common, They should be thrown into the yellow container. Glass containers, most common for creams or makeup bases, should be placed in the green container,” they explain.
ADVERTISINGIf the container still has some cream, it must be deposited “in the waste container, The treatment plants will be in charge of managing this waste,” they indicate.
It is summer are expected high temperatures and very sunny days in all Europe. Countries like Italy is already going through its first heat wave. Excessive exposure to solar radiation can cause cancerous skin diseases such as melanomafor that reason it is essential take expert recommendations seriously and use these lotions that can save our lives by protecting the largest organ in the body.
