Red Mountain Med Spa

Sunscreen Info

According to the Department of Health Services, Arizona is ranked #2 in the world in skin cancer incidence rates. Skin cancer is treatable if caught early, but you can minimize the risks if you properly prepare your skin for sun exposure.

Effective Sunscreens:

Dermatologists recommend the use of broad spectrum products which protect against Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays (UVA/UVB). You want protection against these types because UVB rays cause sunburn and UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and therefore cause premature aging. BOTH of these rays can cause skin cancer. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) tells you how well a product blocks UVB rays. Although no SPF can screen out 100% of UVB rays, the higher the SPF, the more beneficial. However, this does not mean you can expose your skin to the sun for longer periods of time than those wearing lower factor.

For example, SPF 15 screens out 93% of UVB rays and SPF 30 screens out 97% of UVB rays.

Effective Use:

The recommended amount of sunscreen is 1.5 ounces, which is approximately the size of a shot glass. You should apply your sunscreen about 15 minutes before sun exposure. Additionally, re-apply every two hours and after swimming, drying off, and perspiring. There is no such thing as water proof sunscreen, but it can be water resistant. This only means the product stays on the skin longer after it is wet. Re-apply every two hours as with all other sunscreen.

Don't Forget:

When applying sunscreen it is important to not overlook areas like your lips, ears, hair part, hands, décolletage, and your feet. If you expect to be in the sun for longer than 10-15 minutes apply sunscreen underneath your make-up even if it already has an SPF. Always apply your sunscreen after you have cleansed and moisturized your skin.

Red Mountain Med Spa offers a variety of skincare lines, such as Skin Medica, Obagi, NIA-24, Colorscience, which all include medical-grade sunscreens. To promote skin cancer awareness, we are currently offering 20% of all sunscreen products during the month of August.