Facts and fiction on sunscreen

Although it is true that darker or tanned skin is less likely to burn than pale skin, the use of sunscreen and other forms of sun protection is still mandatory. Having an artificial tan or the extra melanin in your skin which comes with a darker complexion will not protect you from all the adverse effects of sun damage such as premature skin ageing and melanomas.

It is a common myth that sunscreen is only needed to be applied when you are out basking in the sun. The UV rays of the sun are capable of penetrating through rain clouds and winter haze to wreak havoc on your skin even on days when it isn t bright and sunny outside. The thumb rule is that if you are going to spend any part of the day outdoors, you should definitely be wearing sunscreen.

The sunscreen you apply before leaving home will ultimately wear off in a few hours time due to sweat and humidity. If you are going to be staying out, you need to carry your bottle of sunscreen with you and reapply it every 3 hours to ensure that it is doing its job as effectively as it should be. If it is an exceptionally humid day or if you are exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time, you must reapply sunscreen at 2-hour intervals at least for the necessary protection.

This is another myth that has been proven wrong by studies. The sunscreen that you wear will not create a barrier for Vitamin D to be synthesized in your body, especially if you have fair or pale skin that calls for extra protection. The human body is quite capable of getting enough vitamin D from incidental sun exposure, as well as from diet and supplements. The regular use of sunscreen shall certainly not lead to a deficiency of vitamin D in your system.