Cancer de piel, Cuida tu piel, Protección solar, Protector solar

Choose a good sunscreen to avoid skin cancer

March 8, 2023

Do you know how skin cancer appears?

Most skin cancers generally appear on parts exposed to direct sunlight since it emits different types of radiation, more precisely ultraviolet rays and the infrared rays . It frequently occurs in elderly people or people with a weak immune system.

Ultraviolet rays are of two types: A (UVA) and B (UVB), the GRAPE They penetrate deep into the skin and generate both pigmentation and photoaging. The rays UVB They affect the skin little and are responsible for redness, inflammation and generate the tanning process. On the other hand, infrared rays give the sensation of heat and can enhance the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. Inappropriate exposure can cause burns, skin aging and skin cancer.

In Colombia, about 9 men per 100,000 suffer from some type of skin cancer, while in women it is about 7 per 100,000. Due to this problem, the following measures are recommended to mitigate the impact of radiation from the sun:

Physical protection measures:

Wear clothing that protects the skin, such as long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, long-boot pants, or umbrellas.
Avoid direct sun exposure between 9 am and 4 pm.

Topical protective measures:

Use broad spectrum sunscreen.

How to properly choose a sunscreen?

Three important characteristics must be taken into account: the sun protection factor (SPF), an indicator of protection against UVA and UVB rays and water resistance.

1.- The SPF measures the protection capacity of the product against ultraviolet radiation, therefore sunscreens are classified according to the following table:

2.- Make sure that the sunscreen label indicates that it protects the skin against UVA and UVB rays

3.- Sunscreens can withstand up to 40 minutes of immersion in water. If you want to extend this time you can use waterproof sunscreens for up to 80 minutes.