Skin care
Learning Center
Tanning beds: Safer than the sun?
Tanning beds don't offer a safe alternative to natural sunlight.
Sunless tanning: What you need to know
Sunless tanning products can provide a safe, natural-looking tan — if they're applied carefully and correctly.
Best sunscreen: Understand sunscreen options
Confused about the best sunscreen? Here's some help sorting through the options.
Hydrated skin: Does drinking water help?
Understand the role water plays in keeping skin healthy.
Mayo Clinic Minute: Shining the light on SPF in sunscreen
Find out what SPF means and what SPF to look for in your sunscreen.
Mayo Clinic Minute: Uncovering UPF in clothing
Find out how UPF clothing can help protect you from the sun.
Mayo Clinic Minute: The many benefits of petroleum jelly
Try these simple tips for healing dry skin with petroleum jelly.
Self-tanners: Are they safe?
Sunless tanning products, also called self-tanners, can give your skin a tanned look without exposing you to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The active ingredient in most sunless tanners is the color additive dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with dead cells in the skin's surface layer to temporarily darken your skin. The coloring gradually fades within a few days. Caution: Most self-tanners don't contain sunscreen. If you spend time outdoors, sunscreen is essential.
Applying sunscreen? Don't be stingy
Most people use sunscreen too sparingly. If you use sunscreen generously and frequently, a bottle of sunscreen shouldn't last long. Generally, a liberal application is 1 ounce (30 milliliters) — the amount in a shot glass — to cover exposed parts of the body. You might need to apply more, depending on your body size. If you have a 4-ounce (118-milliliter) bottle, you'll use about one-fourth of it during one application.
Sunscreen: One dose doesn't do it
You can't put on sunscreen in the morning and expect to be protected for a full day in the sun. To maximize sun protection, apply generous amounts of sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before you go outdoors. Reapply sunscreen every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
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