Sunscreen Tips for Residents of Our Apartments by The Villages

When living in Florida, it is common to hear about the importance of wearing sunscreen. Prolonged and frequent sun exposure can cause sunburns, premature aging of the skin, and even cancer. But how exactly does sunscreen protect us from the sun?

The damage to skin from sun exposure is caused by the ultraviolet, or UV, radiation that is found in sunlight. Sunscreen, when rubbed into the skin, reduces the amount of UV rays that your skin absorbs. The amount of protection a specific sunscreen provides is denoted by the Sun Protection Factor, or SPF. The higher the SPF, the more UV rays are being blocked. Some people have the misconception that SPF 100 will provide twice the protection of SPF 50, but this is actually not the case. Here is a breakdown of SPF and the average amount of UV rays blocked:

• SPF 15 – 93% of UV rays blocked

• SPF 30 – 97% of UV rays blocked

• SPF 50 – 98% of UV rays blocked

• SPF 100 – 99% of UV rays blocked

As you can see, a sunscreen with an SPF of 100 does not offer even close to double the protection against UV rays as an SPF 50 sunscreen does. This is why perhaps most important factor when using sunscreen, regardless of SPF, is to reapply it liberally and often, typically every two hours. Those who sweat or swim a lot should reapply sunscreen even more frequently after toweling off.

Another important factor to note is that there are actually two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. SPF usually refers to the amount of UVB rays that are blocked, although it is becoming more common for sunscreens to specify that they offer “broad spectrum protection,” meaning they protect against UVA and UVB rays. It is ideal to use a sunscreen that has this extra protection, as it will reduce the risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer.

It is a good idea to have sunscreen on anytime while outside during daylight hours, especially in the late morning and early afternoon hours, to protect against UV rays. If you are not yet a resident of our apartments by The Villages but are interested in learning more about becoming one, contact our leasing office today.