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Good to know about skin health | Ask the esthetician

Ask the Esthetician
Your skincare questions answered by Philadelphia esthetician, Suzan Best.

Dear Suzan,

What's the difference between sunscreen and sunblock, and do I need a higher SPF than 15?

Karen L., Philadelphia

Hi Karen,

The sun has two different types of rays, UVA and UVB. UVB rays are what give you instant color (suntan/sunburn). UVA rays penetrate the skin on a deeper level, and usually show up a couple of years later as "sun spots." Both sunscreens and sunblocks help the skin to reflect the sun's harmful rays and prevent penetration and absortion of these rays.

To protect yourself from UVB rays you need more of a chemical protectant, such as sunscreen. To protect yourself from UVA rays you need a physical barrier, such a a sunblock, usually containing zinc oxide.

Envision the doors to a house. It has both a solid wooden door, and also a screen door. The wooden door helps keep all outside elements form entering your house, while the screen door keeps most elements out, but does allow some of the outdoors inside. Same concept with sun protection. Sunscreen is similar to the screen door, it allows some harmful rays to pentrate your skin, sunblock is like the wooden door, it blocks out all harmful rays.

In my opinion sunblock should be worn everyday. I recommend a high quality sunblock designed specifically for the face. Most people prefer to protect themselves with the SPF found in their moisturizers and make-up. For every day, with little sun exposure, the SPF found in regular skin care could suffice.

If a person is going to be exposed to the sun for any significant amount of time, this includes a 2-hour car ride, or having lunch at a cafe near a window, I would recommend a sunblock of 15 -30 be applied every couple of hours, depending on the individual's skin type. For convenience, I recommend purchasing small travel containers from your local drugstore and putting your sunblock in them. You can now have sun protection in your car, in your purse, or even in your briefcase.

The sun is one of the most aggressive agers of the skin. By starting a preventative sunblock regimen as early as possible, you will reap the rewards of healthy skin for many years to come.

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