Have you ever realised what SPF stands for, apart from protecting the skin against the sun? SPF or sun protection factor; in simple words is how long it can protect your skin against harmful sun rays.

Sunrays are composed of ultraviolet A&B along with visible light and infrared rays. These ultraviolet rays are harmful to the skin. Although the ozone layers deflect the primary harmful rays, over exposure to the ultraviolet rays left in the atmosphere could result in allergies, sunburn, and dry skin.

The sun-safe cream provides a sheath of shield against the harmful rays, they also determine the time your skin takes to start reddening up as exposed to the sun. For example, your skin takes 200 seconds to redden upon applying the cream, and it takes 20 seconds without it. Then we divide the first factor by the second, which means the SPF is 10. Similarly, the longer time it takes to redden, the SPF is better. There are a lot of creams on the market with different ranges of SPFs; make sure that you choose a moisturizing sun-safe cream with SPF 25 and above. It protects against the UV rays and also moisturizes the skin.

If you are applying sunscreen, keep it in your handbag if you are outside during the daytime. Usually, if you are overexposed to the sun, it’s always better to use the cream repeatedly. Although a sunscreen protects against the ultraviolet rays, it doesn’t protect against all the ultraviolet rays, such as ultraviolet A, which penetrates inside the skin cell. But, it is useful against ultraviolet B, responsible for sunburns.

One should remember that protection is good, but prevention is better; even the modern beauty icon Kylie Jenner won’t go out without sun-protection. Sun rays are essential for vitamin D, but avoid too much exposure to them, especially during 12 noon to 3:00 pm and keep your routine regular, and you shall be well-protected!