Generously apply the Sunscreen even if there's no Sun

After a long, cold winter nothing matches the pleasure of soaking the sun on a warm day but experts caution that too much sun exposure can lead to premature wrinkles and skin cancer. Despite the frequently reiterated warnings against the ultraviolet rays, nothing seems to keep people from acquiring a tan while lazing beneath the sun. The sunscreen, it seems, is the only liberation.

While sunscreens can help reverse sun damage and prevent skin cancer, most people don't apply enough to adequately shield their skin from the sun's dangerous rays, according to says Daniel Yarosh, author of ‘The New Science of Perfect Skin.’

"People put on so little they only get half of the benefits of SPF. So when they use an SPF 60, they are actually only getting the benefits of SPF 30," he said. "They should put on twice as much as they are used to using."

A 5-ounce tube of sunscreen, for example, should be used in a weekend outdoors.

And protective clothing is just as crucial, Yarosh says. "We have to change our behavior and not put all of our eggs in the same basket by using just sunscreen."

While UVA rays of the sun penetrate deep into the skin and cause aging, cancer, cataracts and immune-system damage, UVB rays mostly damage the surface layer of skin, leading to burns and tanning.

Cosmetic companies have been trying to create a formula that counters both, but that would mean adding more chemicals and the contents of sunscreen lotions are already bothering many. There are concerns that synthetic chemicals used in these lotions might not be safe to apply in large portions everyday, especially for children.

Although, there is no scientific evidence which shows that ingredients in sunscreens are harmful to humans, studies have revealed that chemical sunscreens are slightly more likely to cause allergic reactions than the natural sun blocks, which penetrate the skin to a lesser extent. Natural sunscreens offer less protection and are advised only in people with sensitive skins.

It is seen that people tend to go easy on sunscreens on rainy or cloudy days. Experts urge that application of a sun block should not be compromised in any weather as the harmful rays of the sun are always present.

They insist on generous use of a sun block daily, suggesting people to look for sunscreen products that provide “multi-spectrum protection” and “broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.”