June 13, 2017

The “Why Do I Need Sunscreen” Experiment You Can Try

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Growing up we all have probably been advised, reminded of again and again, or even sprayed by our mothers’ sneak attacks at the pool. “Don’t forget your sunscreen!” We’re reminded in commercials and store advertisements how sunscreen is helpful in protecting against burns and preserving our skin. By now, most of us are familiar with facts about the sun and the potential damage it can cause, such as:

  • 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime
  • 90% of visible signs of aging are due to sun damage
  • Up to 80% of the sun’s harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate your skin, even on cloudy days
  • 10am-2pm is when the sun’s rays are the strongest

All of these facts prove that spending too much time soaking up the warm sunshine rays can be harmful. But have you ever wanted to test it out for yourself and see what the deal truly is with the power of sunscreen? With a few around-the-house objects, you can try this out for yourself!

Supplies:

  • Sunscreen (not the spray kind)
  • Black or dark blue piece of construction paper

Steps:

  • Fold a piece of dark construction paper in half.
  • Squeeze a very small amount of sunscreen onto one side of the paper. (Be careful not to apply too much! Less is more).
  • Smear the sunscreen on one side of the paper.
  • Place the paper in direct sunlight for the day. If necessary, adjust the position to keep it in direct sunlight.
  • After several hours, compare both sides. The side with no sunscreen will be faded, while the side with sunscreen will maintain its dark color.

Sunscreen provides protection for our skin just like it does for the paper. While it’s true that limited time spent in the sunshine can have some health benefits, such as Vitamin D and the ability to lower blood pressure, too much is harmful.

At Solar Solutions of Vero Beach, we want you to have a safe and fun summer, whether you’re lying on the sand or playing in the waves. And don’t stop at just applying sunscreen, having the windows of your home tinted can also dramatically reduce the amount of UV rays that come through, keeping you safer and cooler during the sunny days in Brevard and St. Lucie counties.

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