When sunlight hit your skin, the warm sensation you experience is a warning of trouble not far ahead. Although the degree of trouble depends on factors GoSunSmart.org identifies as altitude, time of day and to some extent, cloud cover, without adequate protection, you put both your skin and overall health at risk. For some, a simple sunscreen may provide enough protection, but to ensure no ultraviolet light penetrates the surface of your skin, a sunblock may be necessary.
Ultraviolet Light
The two types of ultraviolet sun light that can penetrate your skin are long-wave UVA and short-wave UVB rays. UVA rays are intense rays that penetrate not only deep within your skin, but also through glass and cloud cover, with the same intensity all day long. Often called the tanning ray, UVA is the type of ray that affects skin pigment and leads to tanning. UVB rays, on the other hand, are rays that burn your skin. UVB rays penetrate only the epidermal, or surface layers, of your skin, and are the type the Skin Cancer Foundation identifies as the most damaging during midday hours, especially from April to October.
Sunscreen versus Sunblock
Although many use the terms sunscreen and sunblock interchangeably, the American Melanoma Foundation explains they are not the same. The difference between the two lies in how ingredients interact with ultraviolet light. Sunscreens protect by absorbing and filtering UV rays after they penetrate the surface of your skin. How much protection they provide, and whether they absorb UVA, UVB or both types depends on the chemical ingredients. Sunblocks contain ingredients that reflect both types of UV rays, so no penetration occurs.
Time Frame
Wearing a sunblock everyday will prevent sun damage to all covered areas of your skin. Not only do titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, two ingredient the AMF says are common in sunblock products, provide complete protection, they also provide immediate protection. Unlike a sunscreen, which must absorb into your skin for about 30 minutes before becoming effective protection, sunblock ingredients stay on top of your skin and do not wash off easily, in effect creating a continuous, protective shield.
Considerations
It is important to consider an alternate method of protection for areas not covered by your sunblock, especially the top of your head, eyes and face. The right hat is essential when you are in the sun and although a sun visor or baseball cap provides some protection, GoSunSmart.org recommends you choose a wide-brimmed hat instead. Prevent damage to your eyes by choosing wrap-around type sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent UV lens protection.
Potential
Clothing manufacturers are, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, beginning to create clothing with built-in sun protection. These items feature fabrics such as tightly woven polyester or nylon along with special dyes and chemical treatments that work to disrupt UV light and minimize ray penetration. When shopping for clothing, the SCF recommends you look for labels that display a UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, rating of at least 30, meaning the item allows only 1/30th of the sun's UV rays to pass through.
