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The significance of caring for your skin shouldn’t ever be trivialized. Regardless of the season, your skin tone, or the color of your skin, it should be standard practice to wear sunscreen at all times. Quick update! —If you believe it’s safe to abandon skin protection on a cloudy day, think again. Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can travel through clouds. Therefore, wearing sunscreen is a vital practice for maintaining preventive health care throughout the year, even in the winter. Knowing about sunscreens is important, but using them is even more crucial as summer days heighten. The most important aspect of protecting your skin from UV rays is to apply sunscreen every morning and night. Keep reading, we have a few reasons to show you how much of a skin priority using sunscreen is.
What is Sunscreen?
Sunscreen commonly referred to as a sunblock or sun cream, is a topical photoprotective treatment for the skin that helps shield it against sunburn and, more critically, helps prevent skin cancer by absorbing some of the sun’s UV rays.
The term “sunscreen” refers to skincare products that contain UVB and UVA-blocking active substances that protect skin cells from the sun. They often engage in a chemical reaction that helps protect your skin from UV damage.
Photo: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels Who can use Sunscreen?
Sunscreen usage is recommended daily for all sexes and children older than six months. This applies to both those who usually tan and those who don’t. Keep in mind that sun exposure damages your skin over the course of your life whether or not you become sunburned.
It’s best for everyone to wear sunscreen every day. The ideal time to apply sunscreen is 30 minutes before going outside to give your skin time to absorb it. After swimming or intense perspiration, reapply every two hours of exposure.
How does sunscreen function?
There are two varieties of sunscreen, and each one functions differently to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays;
- The physical (mineral) sunscreen: It includes components like minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that block and scatter ultraviolet radiation before they reach your skin.
- Chemical sunscreen: It contains components like avobenzone and octisalate that absorb UV rays before they can damage your skin.
“What is the best sunscreen to buy?” This is the next thought that comes to mind. Well, there are a lot of options, but finding the best sunscreen for you is simple, regardless. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the best sunscreen is the one you’re most likely to use, as long as it offers secure, reliable defense, is broad-spectrum, and has an SPF of 15 or above. It is however generally recommended that you choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 if you spend the most time indoors and SPF of 60 or higher if you spend much time outdoors.
Why Sunscreen is a Skincare Priority
The use of sunscreens should be an essential component of your skincare routine for the several reasons listed below. One of these advantages, among others, is maintaining your skin’s long-term health and radiance. However, you will then need to use sunscreen every day.
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It Protects Your Skin from UV Rays
Our vulnerability to solar damage from dangerous UV radiation has risen due to the ozone layer’s thinning. By blocking these rays, sunscreen significantly lowers the risk of being sunburned. The sun’s abrasive rays are what cause discomfort, redness, sunburns, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, which has symptoms like nausea, cramping muscles, and, in severe cases, brain damage. Use sunscreen every day to fend off this threat, and choose products with an SPF of at least 15. To cover your entire body, use about an ounce of product.
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It Lowers Your Skin Cancer Risk
The fact that sunscreen helps to prevent skin cancer is the main justification for prioritizing wearing it. Even when it’s gloomy or rainy, using an SPF every day can help shield your skin from the cancer-causing rays. It is crucial to safeguard your skin against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Your chance of developing skin cancer is reduced by half if you use sunscreen every day.
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It Prevents Premature Aging of the Skin
UV radiation from the sun damages the skin, causing photo-aging, which is characterized by a thick, leathery appearance, discoloration, and a breakdown of collagen, which causes creases, sagging, and wrinkles. Wear SPF every day to ward off these aging symptoms and embrace a more youthful look.
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It Helps You Maintain an Even Skin Tone
Brown patches and other discolorations on the skin can result from excessive sun exposure and UV damage. However, sunscreen use helps maintain a better, more even skin tone by reducing the risk of sun damage-related abnormalities.
One of the greatest ways to enhance the appearance of your skin is to wear sunscreen, which is a top skincare priority since it reduces your chance of skin cancer and sun damage while minimizing your overall UV exposure. When choosing a sunscreen, you should take a few things into consideration; your skin type, photosensitivity, risk and allergy factors, and your family history of skin conditions. You may need help with all of these under the advice of a licensed dermatologist.
