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Choosing a sunscreen is confusing especially at menopause when so much more is going on with your body and brain! Discover the differences between sunscreen labels from credible experts - the Melanin Docs - Dr. Abhijit and Dr. Gauri Desai.
TRANSCRIPT
Question MenopauseWize:
As a woman of color, should I be changing the way I use sun protection as I near perimenopause and menopause? If I'm already using, let's say sunscreen during my menstruating years and now I'm getting close to perimenopause, my cycles are beginning to get irregular. I'm getting a few hot flashes. I'm already getting a hint. Now that I am approaching menopause, should I be? What should I be doing? Should I be taking extra care? Should I be changing my SPF? What should I be doing?
Answer MelaninDocs:
So you don't really need to do much different because, around the time of menopause, your skin is also beginning to get dry. So maybe if you were opting for a very lightweight formulation, you might need a heavier sun cream, just something that you know double S up as a moisturizer. If not, you could make sure that you first apply a layer of moisturizer and then apply your sun protection on top so that you've, you know, paid attention to both the dryness as well as SPF, but other than that. It doesn't really matter. As to you know which particular cream you're using, from a protection point of view, the thing with SPF is that an SPF 15 say gives you almost I want to say, 93, 94% protection, and SPF 30 gives you like a 97% protection and 50 gives you a 98% protection. So as the numbers increase, the increase in the percentage of protection is not very different. You know, SPF 30 to 50 is really good for everyday use, so that is not the one that makes the difference. What does matter is that you use it. Many times. So the action of the sunscreen will last over, maybe 2 to 3 hours. If you're going to be out in the sun the whole time, then it's going to be because the sunscreen is getting used up. It is also degrading so you need to reapply every two to three hours and that is important. So maybe you know that is one thing that maybe the youngsters don't do, but as you know, as you're growing older, maybe you should start paying attention to that discipline. I think you know what, as we always advise in our practice that. Sunscreen It is very important. The sunscreen you like is the best because when you like it, you will use it more. Because I should rightly mention the. Whether it's 40 or 50, percentage-wise the protection is not much different, but if you like it, you'll use it more. There's going to be much more meticulous, Use discipline, use. That's way more important. So yes, numbers are important. You can go for an SPF 40 or 50 but don't get obsessed with the number. Try it more number of times. That's the key to actually having better sun protection than just feeling you know that oh it's or it's 50 plus, plus, plus, so I'm safe. It's not that, it's that. As she said, if you're outdoors, we apply every two to three hours. If you're indoors, but if you have large windows, the sun is coming inside, then also maybe after four hours. But do reapply it if you're going to be exposed to the UV rays. So I think I think it's more about a little discipline and the liking to apply it more and more. That's what will make the difference, not just selecting A sunscreen or B sunscreen.
And also because just because it's called sunscreen, people kind of associate it with sunny days, but it's not like the clouds absorb all the UV rays. The UV rays are still hitting us. So you have to apply your sunscreen even on sunny days. You have to apply it on snowy sunny days because snow is a water molecule. So that reflects the UV rays onto you. So it's. Yeah. So it does not mean that just because it's a cold snowy day, you don't need to apply your SPS. Or you have a beach vacation. It's hot and sunny, but the water is reflecting light off and UV days off. So those are things where people don't realize sometimes that, you know, skimping is not OK. You know, and and and. I don't blame people for thinking it this way because most of the sunscreen companies will start giving their ads when there is someone. But it's not like that. I think sunscreen should be a way of life. It should be daily in your use. So I think now they should actually start giving ads even in, you know, winters and everything and say that this is an all-season product and it's not that only when the sun is bright and shining. We're talking about changing climate and depleting ozone layers. So these were the things that were used to filter out the UV rays. So in fact we're getting more unfiltered UV light onto our bodies, you know, So that is the reason why we should in general become more disciplined about using something.
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