| " However, basking in the sun, especially without protecting your skin can lead to wrinkles, premature aging and, worst of all, skin cancer. Fortunately there are many options to help protect and keep your skin looking great. But, doctors and aestheticians say that while people are more aware of the sun's harmful effects, a lot of people still do not apply sunscreen correctly or don't apply it at all. " " "It is really important that people of all ages apply sunscreen daily and apply it correctly. At minimum, this means applying a generous amount of sunscreen at least 20 minutes before sun exposure, and reapplying every few hours," said Cindy Hinkle, an aesthetician at Northwestern Medical Center. " " According to Debra Yates, an aesthetician in Pennsylvania, and the past-president of the Society of Plastic Surgical Skin Care Specialists (SPSSCS), sun damage is also responsible for leathery-looking skin, broken capillaries and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, or age spots. " " "Along with skin cancer, tanning and sun damage also contribute to premature aging. The signs of aging are often what make people change their ways. When they start to see the signs of aging, they get concerned," said Ms. Yates. " " What does UV mean? Before you select an effective sunscreen, you should know Ultraviolet (UV) radiation that affects the skin are classified as UVA and UVB. " " What is UVA? UVA is the longest of the UV. It can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and plays a major role in skin aging and wrinkling. Recent studies show it causes the development of skin cancer. UVA penetrates glass and clouds. " " What is UVB? UVB is responsible for burning, tanning, accelerating the skin aging and also plays a key role in the development of skin cancer. UVB varies by season, location and time of day. The most intense amount of UVB hits the U.S. between 10:00am and 4:00pm. " " What is SPF? Sun Protection factor (SPF) measures the protection provided by a sunscreen against UVB. It is defined as the ratio of how long it takes for skin to redden with sunscreen compared to without sunscreen. Although the SPF ratings found on sunscreen packages apply mainly to UVB rays, many sunscreen manufacturers include ingredients that protect the skin from some UVA rays as well. Higher SPF numbers are preferable, but don't let an inflated number lull you into a false sense of security, especially because an SPF measures protection only from UVB -- not the more dangerous UVA rays. " " What is Broad Spectrum? -- When choosing the right sunscreen select a product that provides "broad-spectrum" protection for both UVA and UVB. If you are going to the beach or pool make sure it is water-resistant and doesn't wash off
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