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Most people believe that sunscreen is important to protect skin from burning when they are out in the sun. However, the importance of wearing sunscreen goes much further than looking like a lobster and dealing with peeling skin. UVB and UVA rays come from the sun and permeate through the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. They can be extremely damaging to your skin and are the cause of many harmful and unwanted changes.
Sunscreen Prevents Skin Cancer
UV rays from the sun affect the thin top layer of your skin called the epidermis. Although this layer of your skin constantly sheds off, it is where skin cancer begins to infiltrate and affect cells. While there are other causes of skin cancer, UV rays are considered the main cause. Skin cancer can also increase in chance for those with fair skin, moles, or precancerous skin lesions.
Skincancer.org suggests that you use “a broad spectrum (UVA/UV) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher” in order to help ward off skin cancer.
They also suggest that you “apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside…[and] reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating”.
If you follow these tips you will be taking an active approach in protecting your skin from possible cancerous changes.
Sunscreen Protects From Premature Aging
Another thing that sunscreen protects from is premature and aggressive aging. Aging can be better explained as photoaging, or spotting and change in pigmentation of the skin, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.
These changes to the skin known as photoaging are not necessary in the process of aging and can actually be avoided if the skin is kept completely out of the sun. Studies suggest that “photoaging is mostly caused by UV-A radiation, which robs the skin of its natural ability to hold its shape and also causes freckles and so-called liver spots”.
While keeping out of the sun completely is almost impossible for most, there are still precautions that can be taken in order to help deter or prolong these symptoms. Knowing that sunscreen can decrease and slow aging, it is important to wear it as often as possible in the sun and apply it liberally.
