Summer is usually when people start putting sunscreen at the top of mind. However, whenever you are outside, you should think about protecting your skin from the sun’s rays. Along with wearing sunscreen on your skin, you should be protecting your lips with a lip balm containing SPF. SPF stands for “sun protection factor” and it refers to the level of sun rays the protection allows to reach your skin. The higher the SPF, the higher the protection for your skin or lips. Wearing a lip balm with SPF can help you protect the delicate tissues of your mouth against damaging ultraviolet rays.
Read the Active Ingredients
It’s important to use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or better. It is also important to make sure that your balm specifies that it has a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Broad-spectrum (sometimes called full-spectrum) is sunscreen that protects against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. While UVA rays are more harmful because they can penetrate into deeper layers of the skin, UVB rays can also cause damage the outermost layer of skin. Lip balms with broad-spectrum sunscreens are pretty easy to find at a wide-variety of prices. An active ingredient like zinc oxide can provide protection against both type of rays.
Tips For Wearing It
If you are planning on wearing lipstick or lip gloss, you can wear lip balm as a protective base under your cosmetic layer. Most lipsticks do not contain SPF ingredients, but there are some tinted versions that can protect your smile while making it look pretty. Lip balm with SPF should be applied about thirty minutes before going outside to allow it plenty of time to penetrate the tissue. It should be reapplied every hour. If you are going outside, make sure to protect your skin to help lower your risk of skin cancer.
Sunscreen for your smile is important, too
The team at Lake Country Orthodontics wants to help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful. To schedule your consultation call our office today at (817) 236-7846. Located in Ft. Worth, TX, our office proudly serves patients who live in White Settlement, North Ft. Worth, Springtown, Rome, Haslet, Azle, Saginaw, and all surrounding communities.
