Which Sunscreen is The Best For Your Face, Your Kids and Those Hours of Fun Swimming in Your Pool?

You may be surprised to know high SPF sunblock doesn’t work the best when you’re out in the sun. If your sunblock is waterproof, you’ll likely need to reapply it. All sunscreen/sunblock does not work in the same way. Misconceptions about the use of sunblock abound, and the most circulated myth is that sunscreen with high SPF is the best to use. Being misled about sunscreen and how it functions is something we’ve all been through. Although it does protect you from skin damage, you should know which is best for your skin requirements. Fibreglass swimming pools offer some stimulating swimming experiences, and if you have a pool installed in your backyard, you will spend a lot of time in it. In the heat of the Australian summer, you should absolutely wear sunscreen.

What’s the Best Sunscreen?

Is one sunscreen better than another? And if so, why? To get to the answer, you need to know about the following advantages of sunblock:

• Protection – Sunscreen offers protection for your skin. Harmful UVA and UVB rays are emitted from the sun, and these have been known to cause skin cancer.
• Sunburn – When you are in any of the inviting fibreglass pools out there, the harsh rays of the sun may cause your skin to burn. You may get blisters and your skin may peel.
• Healthy Skin – Sunblock keeps your skin healthy by preventing the formation of wrinkles. The rays of the sun speed up the aging process and cause the skin to become dry.
• Convenient and Affordable – Sunscreen is easy to apply and an affordable way to attain protection.
• Specifically Decreases Cancer Risk – Research shows that sunblock gives the skin protection against all three cancer types associated with the skin. These are squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. The level of protection offered by a sunscreen is directly proportionate to the level of UV radiation that causes skin cancers.

Levels of SPF to Use around Fibreglass Pools

Fibreglass pools offer you a swimming experience like no other. Nonetheless, it’s important to know how important sunscreen is and what level of SPF is good to use. What does SPF measure? When the sun shines down on us while we are in the pool, two types of radiation are released by it. UVB radiation causes sunburns and UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the layers of the skin. This causes grave damage to the skin, as well as premature aging. Exposure to both types of radiation increases your chances of getting skin cancer. Fortunately, sunscreen protects you and prevents this.

The ratings of SPF measure how much protection sunblock provides against UVB or sunburn radiation. Nonetheless, SPF doesn’t measure how much sunblock protection is available against the more drastic UVA radiation. A sunscreen may have a label that reads that it has a high SPF. This doesn’t mean that it’s protecting you in the best way possible. For total protection against UVA and UVB radiation, you should select sunscreens with 3% avobenzone or 15% zinc oxide. You’re ensured of protection with either of these in sunscreen.

Sunscreen for Children and Babies

To be sure, fibreglass pools are as much fun for babies and children as they are for adults. You’ll find your kids unwilling to get out of the pool! Swimming offers a great outlet for energy for children and babies. The sun shouldn’t stop children or babies from having the time of their lives in the pool. Choosing a sunscreen that has a label saying, “hypoallergenic” is super for young children and babies. This will be gentler on tender skin, while offering total protection. Look for sunscreens with 30+ SPF. They should be paraben-free, fragrance-free, dye-free and phthalate-free as far as their formulas go. Containing less than 15% zinc oxide, these are a few of the best sunblock options for children and babies. Adults with sensitive skin can use them too.

The Best Sunscreen for You

Picking out a sunscreen to use on your face is a bit different from the one you use on the rest of your body. Why so? The skin you have on your face is much more sensitive than the skin on your body. You don’t want to burn easily or clog your facial pores with oily sunscreen. This may cause a pimple breakout. Regarding your face, it’s better to use a moisturizing lotion with broad-spectrum protection of SPF. Such lotions are designed to go easy on your pores while giving you a shield against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Lotions like this keep your skin hydrated.

Swimming Sunscreen

As tempting as fibreglass pools are, you must make it a rigorous habit of applying sunscreen before you head out. Sports sunscreens are available off the shelf at your pharmacy or supermarket. With formulas that work best for swimming and other sports, these are non-greasy. They offer you more resistance than regular sunscreens for water. Nonetheless, if you come out of the water, you need to reapply sunscreen when you go back in. This is true even if you are applying waterproof sunscreen. A rule of thumb is to apply it every couple of hours. For a whole day at the pool, you’ll need to stock up on your sunscreen.

Handy Hints

Here are some pointers for sunscreen application that will help you not to get adversely affected by the sun:

• At least 30 SPF sunblock should be applied.
• Reapplication of sunscreen every two hours is a must (this way, you get all-day protection).
• Whenever you’re in the sun, regardless of whether at the pool, wear SPF sunscreen. Rest assured you get the best protection from drying skin and anti-aging, besides the obvious skin damage security.
• In case you have sensitive skin, dermatologists advise a sunscreen that contains minerals.
• When you are in the sun, be sure to wear hats, sunglasses and clothing for protection, even with sunblock on. Get children to do this as well.