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Body Lotion with SPF

Kalpana Kumari
SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is very important to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun's rays. In this story, we tell you more about lotions that contain SPF, and the benefits and risks using these. There are many body lotions with SPF available in the market. They are invaluable in protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.
When you buy a skin product with SPF, it means that it has some special chemical ingredients which can protect your skin from sun damage for a certain period of time. These ingredients can include para-aminobenzoic acid, cinnamates, salicylates, and octocrylene.
They generally provide protection from UVB rays by forming a protective layer on the skin, that absorbs these rays and protects the skin from coming in direct contact with them. Hence, the extent of damage caused is reduced. The effectiveness of such a layer lasts only for a certain amount of time, which is determined by the SPF rating of the product.

Body Lotions with SPF

The SPF is determined by dividing the amount of light-inducing redness in skin protected with sunscreen by the amount of light-inducing redness in skin unprotected with sunscreen. SPF is generally a measure of UVB protection, and usually lies between 1 and 45; however, the number can be above 45.
A skin product with SPF 20 can protect skin, which would otherwise get sunburned in 10 minutes, for 200 minutes. If you use a body lotion with SPF 30, your skin will remain protected for 300 minutes. These products are available in various forms such as creams, oils, sprays, ointments, gels, and lotions.

Benefits

A body lotion which has SPF will protect your skin from sun damage, specifically from UVB. To understand the importance of using sunscreen, you should have some knowledge of the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays of the sunlight. There are three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA can cause premature skin aging, wrinkling, and trigger the onset of dangerous skin cancer such as melanoma.
UVA layers pass easily through the ozone layer. Therefore, they form the majority of the ultraviolet rays present in sunlight. UVB causes sunburn, clouding of animal's eyes, and disrupts the normal functioning of the immune system. Like UVA, it also causes skin cancer like melanoma. Most of the UVB rays get absorbed by the ozone layer in the atmosphere. However, the amount falling on earth are considered to be sufficient to cause the given harm.
Lastly, UVC is the most dangerous form of ultraviolet rays. Fortunately, it cannot penetrate the ozone layer and thus cannot reach the Earth. Since sunlight contains such damaging rays, you need to protect your skin so as to enable yourself to lead a life free from mild and dangerous diseases and premature aging.
Here comes the need for using a daily body lotion with SPF. It will give you some protection from the undesirable effects of sunlight. Always apply such a body lotion before going out in sun. Ideally, you should apply it minimum a half hour before exposing yourself to sun. Nowadays, waterproof and water resistant body lotions with SPF are also available.

Risks

Any skin product is meant for topical application only. As has already been mentioned, you need to apply it about half an hour before going out in sun. Be careful if you are applying it on your face. Do not apply it in the region around your eyes.
Eye contact with sunscreen must be strictly avoided. You are not supposed to use it on cuts, bruises, or broken skin. Do not use it on infants under 6 months of age. If you want to use it on your kid, consult a dermatologist for proper advice and recommendation
In case a body lotion causes rash, irritation, and gives you a burning sensation, you should immediately wash your skin with water and discontinue it's further use. Visit a dermatologist for proper guidance. If you or someone known to you happens to ingest it, immediately seek medical attention. The ingredients of skin products with SPF may interfere with the effects of other drugs. Therefore, do consider discussing with a doctor if you are on some kind of medication.
Nowadays, body lotions with SPF 15 to 50 are available in the market. A point worth mentioning here is that the upper limit of SPF is taken as 30. A product with SPF greater than 50 is most likely to give you effects similar to one with SPF 30 only. Therefore, it is not advisable to go for body lotions with higher SPF.
It is difficult to suggest the best body lotion as each individual's skin differs from others in some aspects. A dermatologist is the right person who can help you find one according to your skin's sensitivity.