Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an important product for outdoor sun care and sunburn prevention. But using sunscreen appropriately is equally as important. Sunscreen is a chemical-based product like cough syrup — you use it only when you need it. Cough syrup is used when you are suppressing a cold, but daily use would be silly. Likewise, sunscreen should only be used when sunburn is possible. Over-use is just as silly. And kids and parents today know that.

The professional tanning community today teaches proper sunscreen usage as part of a total skin care regimen. Sunscreen should be used to prevent sunburn – period. Using sunscreen every day, even when sunburn isn’t possible, isn’t a good idea for several reasons. For one, sunscreen blocks your body’s ability to produce vitamin D, one of the most important hormones in your body. Plus, the chemicals found in most sunscreen products don’t just sit on top of your skin. These chemicals penetrate beyond your skin and gets into your body and bloodstream.

To find out more, read the Washington DC-based Environmental Working Group’s conclusions on sunscreen usage and do your own homework.