Yes, our grandmothers' skin seemed to do just fine without super-strength SPF 45, but it's a whole new world now. With a blotchy ozone layer and harsh UV rays are filtering through, sun protection is as necessary as drinking water

WE know we live in a tropical country where avoiding the sun would be like walking about in Antarctica and trying to avoid stepping on ice. So what's the answer? Sunblock of course! And knowing what kind of sun exposure causes what kind of damage.

The first things to clear, when you're talking about sun protection are the two kinds of ultraviolet rays - UVA and UVB. UVB rays cause your skin to show the signs of sunburn, but most sunscreens protect against them. As the ozone layer becomes thinner, we're getting more exposure to this. UVA rays don't burn your skin, but they do the most damage.

They penetrate your skin more deeply and affect the cells on a molecular level. That's why it's important to look for a sunscreen that will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA damage results not only in wrinkles and sagging skin, but also in bad pigmentation. And UVA intensifies with altitude, so it's particularly important to protect yourself when you're at hill stations.

Selecting A Sunscreen
The best protection from the sun is to stay out of it. But there are ways to protect yourself when you can't avoid exposure. Sunscreens must be part of your daily regimen. They're available under a bevy of labels and offered in the form of lotions, creams, gels, sprays and oils.

A good sunscreen absorbs and/or blocks ultraviolet rays; make sure the one you choose is effective against both UVB and UVA. Even with a protective sunscreen, you need to use common sense about how long you can stay in the sun. Dermatologists always stress that no matter what strength sunscreen you use, you'll still get some exposure.