Why Don’t You Wear Sunscreen?
21% of all cancer cases are reported by Americans while Africans represent 7.3%. And out of the total number of cancer deaths reported worldwide, 14.4% are Americans while 5.8% are Africans.
Let’s narrow this down a little bit more. Of all cancer cases reported worldwide, 5.8% are skin-cancer related and each year, 0.7% of this population die. While this might not sound much, realize that it means that we lose 65,155 people to skin cancer Every. Single. Year.
Do those statistics terrify you? They should!
Our skins are designed to protect us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. However, the rays of the sun sometimes get so harsh that they can damage the skin. This damage comes in two major forms:
Looks
Ultraviolet radiation causes changes to our DNA that result in premature aging. Constant exposure to UV rays will result in wrinkled, dull, and old-looking skin stripped of its natural elasticity.
Cancer
According to Sujit Roy, researcher and author of Impact of UV Radiation on Genome Stability and Human Health, the change to our DNA caused by UV rays also has a more terrifying effect; skin cancer. Constant exposure to the sun’s UV rays might not leave a visible burn, but it could very well lead to skin cancer.
UVA and UVB Rays
There are two major types of ultraviolet rays in terms of skincare. We’ll take a look at both of them:
- UVA Rays: To quote Doctor Jean Krutmann, a Professor of Dermatology and Environmental Medicine and Director of the Institute for Environmental Medicine in Duesseldorf, Germany: “These rays penetrate deeply into the skin, past the epidermis, and cause DNA change that results in skin cancer and wrinkle development.”
- UVB Rays: In 1977, specimens obtained from human skin following the induction of UVB and UVA rays. The specimens showed that UVB rays play larger roles in the development of sunburns. Even worse, exposure to UVB rays causes skin cancer.
Black People Don’t Need Sunscreen- or Do They?
The myth about black people not needing sunscreen stems from confusion about what sunscreen actually does. People assume that sunscreen’s major and only use is preventing sunburns. Since Africans are mostly darker-skinned and usually live in much hotter climates, some people think we do not need sunscreen.
Sunscreen prevents sunburning, but that is its secondary and less-important use. Sunscreen shields your skin from UV rays which prevents DNA change that can lead to skin cancer.
Everyone needs sunscreen. EVERYONE. This has nothing to do with age, race, skin type, or hair type. If you have skin, you need to protect it from the sun. Sunscreen does more than protect your looks; it keeps you alive. So, this begs the question: Why Don’t You Wear Sunscreen?
5 Common Sunscreen Mistakes
Sunscreen is affordable and when its price is compared to what it does, it almost seems like a ripoff. If you’ve noticed the error of your ways and have decided to start wearing sunscreen, congratulations. Here are 5 common mistakes to watch out for when applying sunscreen.
Not Wearing Sunscreen Every Day
Once you purchase your bottle of sunscreen, give it a good look and acquaint yourself with it. It should now become a compulsory part of your everyday life even if you’re staying indoors.
Only Wearing Sunscreen When the Sun Is Visibly Out
“Everyday” means “every day”. This includes rainy and cloudy days when there’s no sun in sight. Ultraviolet rays are really sneaky. Remember that sunscreen shields your skin from ultraviolet rays and not sunlight. You cannot see UV rays so don’t mistake them for sunlight. Wear sunscreen every day.
Using Too Little Sunscreen
Honestly, if you’ve come this far, why not do it well? Sunscreen is meant to act as a forcefield. It will not work in areas it is not well applied. It should leave a light protective film on your face. Really expensive brands do their best to mask the whitish film. However, in my opinion, if all you can get are the budget options, go for it. It’s better to look white as a ghost than to be well… a ghost.
Buying Wrong Brands of Sunscreen
There’s quite a difference between “cheap” and “wrong”. Budget brands still do the work but will need to be applied more often and usually leave a whitish film. However, they still work! A wrong brand does not work at all.
Before choosing a brand of sunscreen, check reviews for that product to ensure that you’re buying stuff that actually works. Or stick to popular brands: think Cerave, Nivea, or Neutrogena.
Using sunscreen only once a day
Sunscreen isn’t a once-a-day thing. If you’re shocked, it’s okay. I’ll explain. Think of your sunscreen as a martyr that fights the sun to its detriment. After about two hours, it needs reinforcement. That’s where you come in. Apply sunscreen all through the day, especially when you’re out in the sun.
Final Thoughts
Sunscreen is not a vain subject. It is important to your health. There are quite a lot of things that we cannot control, but skin cancer isn’t one of them. Invest in your skin. It would be awful to develop an illness that could have been prevented.
Although skincare is often regarded as a vain subject, it has important physical and mental health benefits. If you’ve not made the solemn decision to wear sunscreen every day from today, I don’t get it!
