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How Sun Savvy Are You? - Steven and Chris
Health
How Sun Savvy Are You?
May 22, 2012
Get active this summer by taking part in those sun-filled outdoor activities, but don't forget to play safe. Get sun smart and protect yourself against burns, wrinkles, sun spots and cancer.
Take the quiz from Banana Boat to find out just how sun savvy you really are:
1. How often should you reapply sunscreen?
a) Never
b) Every 2 hours
c) After you go swimming
c) Although the sun may not feel as warm before May and after September, UVA rays are just as strong all year round. UVA rays are not affected by time of day or season. It is important to wear sunscreen every day, all year round to avoid the long term effects of the sun caused by UVA rays.
3. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 means:
a) You can stay out in the sun 30 times longer than you normally would without burning
b) You'll be protected for 30 minutes
c) It's made for fair-skinned people
a) SPF indicates how much longer you can spend in the sun without burning, compared to having unprotected skin. The amount of time varies from person-to-person depending on your skin type. For example, if you have fair skin and tend to burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, then an SPF 30 will protect you 30x's longer - or a total of 300 minutes for the day - assuming you are applying the sunscreen every 2 hours. Sunscreen reapplication does NOT provide you with an additional 300 minutes of protection; it just provides the original 300 minutes. Those who tend to burn more easily should use a sunscreen with a higher SPF, especially when out in the sun for long periods of time.
4. The best kind of sunscreen to buy is:
a) Any kind. They are all the same
b) Photostable sunscreens
c) One labeled Dermatologist recommended
b) UV rays have so much energy that they can actually break apart some sunscreens over time (just like the sun can damage your hair, skin, carpet, curtains, etc.). When this happens, sunscreens lose their ability to absorb UV rays, leaving skin unprotected. Photostable sunscreens resist this degradation so your skin is effectively protected.
5. UVA rays penetrate deep layers of your skin, causing:
a) A sunburn
b) Wrinkles and sun spots
c) Sleepiness
b) UVA rays penetrate your skin more deeply, causing pre-mature aging and long-term skin damage, such as wrinkles and sun spots. UVB rays penetrate the outer layer of your skin, and are responsible for sunburns. Too much of either can eventually lead to skin cancer.
6. Up to 80 per cent of the sun's rays can penetrate through:
a) Your office window
b) Sunglasses
c) Clouds, mist and fog
