We know it: to protect our skin against ultraviolet rays, sunscreen is in-dis-pen-sable. And to be sure to have an effective shield against UVA and UVB rays, we choose it with a good protection index (the highest possible SPF, 6 being the minimum), we think of putting it back every two hours ( and after each swim), we do not forget any area of the body (be careful at the back of the knees, for example) and we brush the whole family, regardless of age!
Except that, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from King’s College London (UK), we always forget an important tip when putting on sunscreen … Generosity!
Indeed: according to British scientists, the dose of 0.8 mg of sunscreen per cm2 of skin (that which is applied on average) would be quite simply insufficient. Result: with this (weak) layer, a sunscreen that would display a sun protection index (SPF) of 50 would not provide more than 40% of the expected protection!
The tip of the teaspoon: to adopt
What, in this case, is “the” right dose to apply? The researchers (whose work has been published in the specialized journal Acta Dermato-Venereology) offer us a very simple trick: it involves measuring ½ teaspoon of sunscreen for each arm, for the face and for the neck, and 1 whole teaspoon for each leg, for the torso and for the back. The small spoon, an essential health accessory to slip into the beach bag!
A little reminder for holidaymakers: sunscreen, even if it has a high SPF, does not prevent tanning … On the other hand, it protects the skin against premature cellular aging. So we don’t skimp on the quantity!
To read :
Sunscreen would protect against melanoma
Are waterproof sunscreens really effective?
Hawaii bans sunscreens that poison corals
