How Much Sunscreen Do You Actually Need?

Most men and women consciously take proper care of their skin and indulge in the best skin

care products. We religiously cleanse and tone our skin everyday both in the mornings and

evenings. We faithfully dab on the sunscreen 20 minutes before stepping out in the day, be it

summer, winter or rains.

However, is the broad spectrum, SPF 30 and water resistant sunscreen really doing its job?

When we still end up looking sunburned and weather beaten, the first thought is to switch to

another brand of sun block!

Well, the problem is not with the quality of the sunscreen, but the quantity! Indeed, most

people apply too little sunscreen for it to be effective. Dermatologists recommend that you

should apply sunscreen liberally - 2 milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. In

simpler terms, this works out to an ounce (a shot glass full) of sunscreen for full body

coverage from head-to-toe (say, for the beach). The quantity will vary depending on the body

size as well as the consistency and texture of the sunscreen.

In general, the face alone requires a nickel-sized dollop (about 1/4 th teaspoon) and the neck

warrants an equal quantity. Similarly, ensure that you slather the sunscreen on all other

exposed parts of the body and reapply it every 2 hours or so. Only then will the sunscreen

live up to its potential and you will get the best skin care!