We are steadily moving towards summer days and temperatures. More and more often we can enjoy the sun and lie in the garden bakken† A good sunscreen is a mustbut how much of that product do you actually need to protect your skin enough?
Smear, smear, smear
We all know by now that it is important to use sunscreen properly. Not just in the summer, but actually every day. Although a good SPF in the summer is of course extra important. However, most women use far too little sunscreen. Not handy, because the amount you use is a determining factor in the extent to which your skin is protected against UV radiation (and consequences such as accelerated skin aging). Not sure how much to use? There appears to be a handy rule of thumb for this.
Too few
Spray a few times, spread it out well and voilà: you are all set for an afternoon of sunbathing. That’s how most people think about it, but nothing turns out to be less true. Many of us, perhaps unconsciously, use too little sunscreen while applying sunscreen. The consequence? Your skin takes the SPF protection which the packaging does not promise, so that you are less well protected and burn faster.
Teaspoons
So don’t use too little product. Is noted. But how much should you use? dr. Jetske Ultee states that you need to apply about 2 milligrams of sunscreen to every square centimeter of your skin to achieve the SPF stated on the package. But to measure your body and divide it into square centimeters is also going a bit far.
To make the complicated calculation a bit more concrete, we convert the amounts into teaspoons. With that rule, you would end up with about half a teaspoon of sunscreen for your face. You will also need half a teaspoon for your neck. You can easily lose two full teaspoons if you want to rub your arms and shoulders well. You also need two generous teaspoons of SPF for your chest, stomach and back, as well as for your feet and legs. Good to know!
Bron: NSMBL, Grazia | Beeld: iStock
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