SPF Is Your BFF. But if you don’t apply sunscreen correctly, even the greatest sunscreen won’t protect you well. To make sure you’re protected, follow these guidelines. Sunscreen application is important not only for preventing skin cancer but also for preventing wrinkles.

One of the healthiest ways to protect your skin from the sun is to apply sunscreen. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, a decent sunscreen with potent UVA and UVB blocking can save you from getting burned, minimize the development of wrinkles and other symptoms of age, and reduce your risk of skin cancer (FDA). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there are more than five million new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) identified in the country each year.

Experts recommend using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. For everyday use, the physicians at Dharamveer Solanki Hospital recommend using a mineral sunscreen with zinc and titanium. Mineral sunscreens, also known as physical sunscreens, protect the skin from the sun’s rays and are less irritating and hydrating than chemical sunscreens, which absorb the rays and convert them to heat in the body, according to DSH.

However, your task isn’t done once you’ve found the ideal bottle. Too many people make mistakes throughout the application procedure, such as dotting on too little, skipping vulnerable areas, and so on. Skin cancer is the most dangerous consequence of not using sunscreen, but it isn’t the only reason to use it. Sunburns destroy skin cells and blood vessels, making skin appear aged, wrinkled, dry, discolored, and leathery, according to DSH specialists.

The aging effect of the sun’s rays, according to doctors, is a crucial reason to be rigorous about sunscreen application. “Several major studies have shown that frequent sunscreen use helps reduce photoaging – redness, brown spots, and wrinkles — over time,” she says. UV radiation, for example, was found to be responsible for nearly 80% of visible indications of aging on the face in a previous study.

Here, experts explain the most common sunscreen blunders and how to avoid them.
You Wait Until You’re Already Out to Apply Sunscreen
You’re Too Stingy While Applying Your Sunscreen
You Ignore Crucial Areas
You Don’t Bother to Reapply Your Sunscreen As Often As Recommended
You don’t apply sunscreen evenly enough.
When it’s cloudy, you don’t wear sunscreen. (But Alas! 80 percent of its UV rays still hit your skin)7. You Don’t Pay Attention to the Expiration Date
All the above-mentioned points MUST be considered while applying sunscreen, suggests dermatologists at DSH, in order to protect your skin from any reaction to UV rays or improper application or usage of expired product. In case you are abiding by all the norms religiously and still get targeted by any kind of reaction or allergies or ailment of any kind, it is strictly recommended to visit an expert doctor. If you are one of them, you can always and anytime visit Dharamveer Solanki Hospital, Rohini-Delhi, or visit their website: www.dsolankihospital.com for consultation.