1)
WRONG: We don’t use sunscreen during the first days of summer or holidays, when we still aren’t tanned.
RIGHT: White skin types are less protected against the harmful sun radiation. That means that we need more protection in the first days of our holidays when we are not tanned.
Our skin will get tanner even if we use a high protection sunscreen. We should start with a high protection sunscreen and then when we get tanner, we can use a lower one if we want. When we tan gradually, the tan will last for longer. Sudden sun exposure can increase the likelihood of skin cancer more than a gradual exposure to the sun.
2)
WRONG: We use sunscreen after we have arrived to the beach and gone into the sea.
RIGHT: We use sunscreen before we leave the house, hotel etc. Sunscreen is more effective 15- 20 minutes after the application.
3)
WRONG: We apply sunscreen just once.
RIGHT: All sunscreen have to be reapplied every 2 hours, approximately. In addition, after swimming, shower, sweating (eg. when playing rackets, beach- volley) we should reapply even if we did less than 2 hours ago.
4)
WRONG: We use sunscreen only on the face and body, in most exposed areas.
RIGHT: We have to protect all exposed areas of our body like the neck, ears, nose, and toes.
When we have a white skin type it is easier to get sun burnt. Especially areas like the thighs, the dorsal area of the foot that is usually covered by shoes the rest of the year, need extra protection.
5)
WRONG: We found last year’s sunscreen which is still full and we use it again.
RIGHT: Every year we should buy new products as they can get bad because they have an expiry date. This can result in poor protection of the skin and irritation.
If the sunscreen’s texture seems strange, eg there is oil or water in the cream or it has a grainy texture, that means it has been spoiled. We should not use it. When we run out of sunscreen towards the end of summer we should buy a small one so it won’t last for the next year.
6)
WRONG: We leave the sunscreen exposed. We leave the beach bag in the car.
RIGHT: All sunscreens maintain their composition and effectiveness when they are kept in particular temperatures. If they are surpassed, the consistency of the sunscreen will go bad. That means that we should not leave the cream exposed to the sun.
Through the hot days, the temperature inside a car can be 60o-70o C. In those temperatures the sunscreen can go bad. That is why we should not leave the sunscreen in the car until the next time we go to the beach. When we are at the beach it is best to keep the sunscreen in a little bag, inside the beach bag.
Source
(https://www.iatropedia.gr/)
