The Pool Owner’s Guide to Choosing Sunscreen

As a pool owner, you probably enjoy spending time outside in the sun with your family relaxing by the pool. Sunlight can be great for your health in moderation. Overexposure to the sun can leave you sunburnt, cause wrinkles, and put your health at risk. Choosing the right sunscreen and using it correctly is important for protecting your skin and fully enjoying your backyard getaway experience. Use our guide to choosing the right sunscreen so that you can safely and comfortably enjoy your time in the sun.

What Does SPF Mean?

You probably know that the higher SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, a sunscreen has, the more protection it offers. Essentially, SPF is a way to determine how long you can expose yourself to the sun without burning. Most sunburns happen in as little as 15 – 20 minutes on a very sunny day. An SPF 15 sunblock allows you to remain in the sun for up to 15 times longer without burning. Most doctors recommend you use SPF 30 sunscreen or higher for your face. SPF numbers are do not indicate strength — they show the length of time you can spend in the sun before needing to reapply your sunscreen.

Choose a Sunscreen with “Broad Spectrum” Protection

UVB and UVA rays are ultraviolet rays produced by the sun that can damage skin cells, cause sunburn and wrinkles, and possibly cause skin cancers. Sunscreens with a “broad spectrum” protection label protect against both UVA and UVB rays, so for adequate protection you’ll want to choose a broad spectrum sunblock. According to Cancer.org, SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens filter about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. No sunscreen can protect you 100%, but any sunscreen that’s SPF 15 or higher will offer you significant protection and decrease your risk of sunburn, wrinkles and skin cancer.

Water Resistant Sunblock

As a pool owner, you’ll want to use sunscreen that says “water resistant” on the label so that you’re protected while swimming and sweating. No sunscreen is fully waterproof or sweatproof, so make sure that you set a reminder to reapply when needed. Sunscreens that say “water resistant” are required to specify how long they last while swimming or sweating. The general best practice is to reapply sunblock at least every 2 hours, and even more if you’re swimming or sweating. When you towel off after swimming your sunscreen usually rubs off a bit, so you’ll want to reapply every time you use a towel.

Other Ways to Protect from Sun Exposure

In addition to correctly using the right sunscreen, there are some extra steps you can take to help protect your skin from the sun. Cover Your Body: Wear clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin from direct sunlight. Get in the Shade: When the sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., limit your direct exposure to the sun and seek shade after sitting in the sun for a while. Sun Protection Clothing: You can also wear UV protective hats and shirts for additional protection from the sun. A typical T-shirt does offer some UV protection, but clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 15 – 50 will offer much better protection. Everyone loves a good pool party or a little summer fun-in-the-sun by their pool on a nice day. To make sure you’re safely enjoying your time in the sun, follow this guide and use the right sunscreen. Never let overexposure ruin your fun! Use sunblock and don’t wake up with an uncomfortable sunburn the next day. You’ll thank yourself later. With your skin protected, you can relax and enjoy your beautiful poolside escape.  If you’re in need of the perfect pool to go with the perfect sunscreen, please contact Fronheiser Pools to speak with a pool expert today! Fronheiser is a full service pool and spa company. Our experts handle everything from pool design and pool building to swimming pool maintenance and repairs. Whether you need help winterizing or summarizing your swimming pool, regular maintenance or even emergency service — you can count on our team of reliable pool contractors and technicians to expertly handle each and every one of your pool and spa needs. We’ll get you set for sun, swimming, and the best summer of your life.