What is SPF?  How to Choose a Good Sunscreen

With millions of people suffering with skin cancer or sun related skin damage every year, the use of sunscreen is more important than ever before. The good news is more people are becoming aware of the risks associated with sun overexposure and are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves in the future. The even better news is there are a multitude of products on the market which make it very easy to take care of your skin and protect it from the sun’s damaging rays. However, many people are quite confused over which sunscreen they should purchase and use. There are many confusing terms often used on sunscreen packaging which make it difficult to know what can protect in the most effective way.

What Is SPF?

SPF is an acronym which stands for Sun Protection Factor. Bottles with higher SPF numbers will protect better against harmful UVB rays from the sun. Basically, the SPF number is an indicator of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, if a person usually gets burned in 15 minutes, a lotion with SPF 15 protection would allow them to stay in the sun 15 times longer (or for 225 minutes) without burning.  It’s recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology that everyone wear a product with at least SPF 15. Of course, some people wonder if this means an SPF of 50 will protect loads more than lotions with SPF of 30. However, this is not necessarily the case. A lotion with SPF 50 only protects about 2% more than a lotion with SPF 30.

UVA and UVB

When you’re looking at lotions and sunblock products, be sure to check out the protection they offer from UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are those which result in the aging of the skin and they may cause skin cancer. Without UVA protection from Coppertone lotions or any other sunscreen lotion, you’ll get more wrinkles. Thus, one factor to think about when choosing your daily makeup or moisturizer is whether or not it offers included UVA protection. Neutrogena offers high rating products to help you combine both makeup coverage and skin protection in one. UVB rays are those which can also give sunburn and are related to the cause of skin cancer.

Waterproof Sunscreen

While years ago white zinc oxide was required for beach goers, today there are many options when it comes to skin protection. You no longer are forced to look like a clown to get ultraviolet protection. Instead, you can now find waterproof sunscreen to help you be able to frolic in the ocean or at the pool without worrying about sun damage. Be sure to look for a type that is both noncomodegenic and hypoallergenic. Also be sure to remember most “waterproof” lotion provides up to 80 minutes or protection but “water resistant” lotion might only give up to 40 minutes of protection.

With so many great products on the market for every day skin protection, there is no excuse to not protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Skin damage from the sun not only causes cancer but it can also cause things like early aging of the skin and wrinkles. While cancer is much more terrifying to consider, most women aren’t motivated to protect themselves due to it because they think it will never happen to them. However, all women are concerned about wrinkles so take action today and protect yourself from both!

Here is one of our patients Caroline who has undergone treatment for dental implants and ceramic crowns.

Why I started
All of my life I had hated the dentist, only ever attended in pain and yes, I’d been stupid and always asked to just ‘pull it out’.

How would I regret it later? At the age of 45, I had a high power job, socially I had a very demanding job and had the added problem of a denture and teeth that just didn’t match my personality.

The Procedure
After lots of market research, I shopped around but as soon as I walked into the APT office, I knew this would be the place I was going to receive my treatment. The dentist was so competent, confident that I decided after two thorough visits, consultants and discussion I was ready to proceed.

The procedure I did choose to have was sedation. A procedure where I simply felt tired, relaxed and all by placing a small injection into the back of my hand- pure bliss.

The overall treatment was to last 6 months – I was to have dental implants in my lower jaw and replace my crown work on the upper.

Implant Replacement
I have to admit this was the treatment I was most apprehensive about even after sedation. After the procedure I did feel tender, had swelling but after two days I was back to work.

The dentist had simply placed four small titanium screws into my lower jaw and onto these to these he would place my new teeth. Simply they replaced the roots. Whilst the bone was to stick to the implants he started on the upper ones which had been placed years ago

The procedure involved drilling of my old crowns which was so much more simpler than I had ever expected. 

The Results

My temporaries looked beautiful as Dr Broughton had already added length which gave me a beautiful full lip and two weeks later the results were even better.

Take a look at the photographs – I can’t believe it and I have the before and after pictures on my desk for everyone to see. I simply can’t believe it.

I left it far too long. Yes, I have sedation for my treatment but I enjoy visiting now. My smile has transformed my face, I have a much fuller lip, my jowls have disappeared and I’ve got a much different outlook on dentists thanks to Dr Broughton, APt and his staff.

APT says
Dental implants are the idea solution to replace missing teeth. With advancements in technology, same day teeth are now available that can completely transform peoples lives. Implants can be used to replace single teeth, full dentures or even partial dentures.

It is important that a thorough assessment of bone levels, medical history and past dental history is obtained. The procedure is a surgical procedure but is forever evolving with minimal discomfort to the patient.

With Caroline, combining implants, crowns and bridgework completely rejuvenated her smile, her facial appearance and changed her whole outlook on dentistry. Dentistry is changing – advances in technique enlighten the whole experience and yes most of our patients smile!

If you would like to know any more information visit our website:

http://www.traceybell.co.uk/smilescription/smilescription.html

If you would like any more information visit our website at:

http://www.traceybell.co.uk/

Here is one of our clinets, Caroline. Caroline is 45 years of age and the treatment she received was dental implants and ceramic crowns. 

Why I started
All my life I hated the dentist, I only ever attended in pain and yes, I’d been stupid and always asked to ‘just pull it out’.

How would I regret it later? At the age of 45, I had a high power job, socially I had a very demanding job and had the added problem of a denture and teeth that just did not match my personality.

The Procedure
After lots of market research, I shopped around but as soon as I walked into the APT office, I knew this would be the place where I would receive my treatment.

The dentist was so competent and confident that after two visits, consultations and discussions, I was ready to proceed.

The Procedure I did choose to have was sedation. A procedure where I simply felt tired and relaxed, all by placing a small injection into the back of my hand- pure bliss.

The overall treatment was to last six months- I was to have dental implants in my lower jaw and replace my crown work on the upper.

Implant Replacement
I have to admit, this was the treatment that I was most apprehensive about even after sedation. After the procedure I did feel tender and I had swelling, but after two days I was back at work.

The dentist simply placed four small titanium screws into my lower jaw and onto these he would place my new teeth. Simply, they replaced the roots. Whilst the bone was to stick to the implants he started on the upper ones which had been placed years ago.

The procedure involved drilling of my old crowns which was so much more simpler than I had expected.

The Results
Before and After

My temporaries looked beautiful as my dentist has already added length which gave me a beautiful full lip and two weeks later the results were even better.

Take a look at the photographs- I can’t believe it and I have the before and after pictures on my desk at work for everyone to see. I simply can’t believe it.

I left it far too long. Yes, I have sedation for my treatment but I enjoy visiting now. My smile has transformed my face, I have a much fuller lip, my jowls have disappeared and I’ve got a much different outlook on dentists thanks to the clinic.

APT says
Dental implants are the idea solution to replace missing teeth. With advancements in technology, same day teeth are now available that can completely transform peoples lives. Implants can be used to replace single teeth, full dentures or even partial dentures.

It is important that a thorough assessment of bone levels, medical history and past dental history is obtained. The procedure is a surgical procedure but is forever evolving with minimal discomfort to the patient.

With Caroline, combining implants, crowns and bridgework completely rejuvenated her smile, her facial appearance and changed her whole outlook on dentistry.

Dentistry is changing – advances in technique enlighten the whole experience and yes most of our patients smile!

If you would like to know more information on implants, crowns or any other dental treatment, then visit the Tracey Bell website at:

http://www.traceybell.co.uk/smilescription/smilescription.html