According to BS.CKII Tran Ngoc Phuong, Department of Dermatology, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, sun protection is the most important step in skin care, helping to prevent aging, reduce the risk of sunburn and protect the skin from the risk of cancer.
Doctors say that ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin cells, causing wrinkles, dark spots and loss of elasticity. Prolonged exposure to sunlight also increases the risk of skin diseases, including skin cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified UV radiation from sunlight and artificial sources as a carcinogen.
Choose the right sunscreen
When choosing sunscreen, people should prioritize products with broad-spectrum protection, helping to resist both UVA and UVB rays. SPF 30 or higher is suitable for most users, while SPF 50+ is usually recommended for high-risk cases such as laser treatment, skin peeling, hyperpigmentation or regular outdoor work.
In addition, users can choose cream, lotion, spray, stick or roll forms depending on their needs and usage habits to maintain daily sun protection.
Even in the shady weather or indoors, sun protection is still needed
Many people believe that you only need to apply sunscreen when going outdoors in the sun. However, according to experts, UVA rays can still penetrate the windows of houses, offices or cars and affect the skin. Even on cloudy days, a large amount of UV rays can still penetrate the clouds and cause skin damage.
Therefore, using sunscreen daily is necessary, even when working indoors or in sunny weather.
Apply correctly for effectiveness
Experts recommend applying sunscreen about 15 minutes before going out and applying it again every 2 hours. In case of swimming or sweating a lot, apply it again sooner.
Places that are often forgotten such as ears, neck, back of the hand, back of the foot, and lips also need to be protected. For lips, use SPF-rated lip balm.
Common mistakes
According to Dr. Tran Ngoc Phuong, many people use sunscreen but the skin protection effect is not high due to common mistakes such as choosing products with low SPF or not capable of protecting against UVA rays, applying insufficient amounts, not reapplying during the day or only using when it is sunny.
Adults usually need about half a teaspoon of sunscreen for the face and neck area, and maintain the habit of using it every day to effectively protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays.
