Here is Why Sunscreen is Absolutely Essential
I hate sunburns.
What is sunscreen?
Sunscreen is a skincare product that you apply to your skin which helps absorb or reflect the sun’s UV radiation and this in turn protects against sun damage and sunburn.
The most common form of UV radiation is sunlight and there are three types: UVA, UVB, & UVC.
UVA: These rays have the longest wavelength and they can reach deep into the layers of the skin causing premature aging and wrinkles. They can also cause skin cancer. UVA rays account for 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the ground.
UVB: These rays have a wavelength that is longer than UVC and they can cause sunburn and skin cancer. UVB rays play the greatest role in causing skin cancer. UVB rays account for 5% of the UV radiation that reaches the ground.
UVC: These rays have the shortest wavelength but don’t reach the Earth’s surface because it is blocked by the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
Some of the benefits of applying sunscreen are:
Sunscreen helps protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer.
Sunscreen keeps skin tone and complexion even.
Sunscreen protects against premature aging and wrinkles.
Sunscreen helps protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Sunscreen acts as a UV filter that helps keep UV rays from penetrating into the skin. There are two types of sunscreen: mineral & chemical. Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin’s surface which by acting like a physical block it is able to deflect UV rays away from the skin. When chemical sunscreens are applied, it gets absorbed into the skin and reaches the deeper layers. When UV rays penetrate into the skin, the chemical sunscreen absorbs the rays and changes it to heat which is then released from the skin.
By acting as a UV filter, sunscreen helps to deflect or scatter UV rays before the rays start inflicting significant damage to the skin.
Sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of skin cells and its main cause is exposure to excessive UV light. Over time, too much radiation can damage the DNA in your cells. If this DNA damage builds up over time, cells can start to proliferate out of control which then leads to skin cancer.
Sunscreen protects and helps reduce the risk of skin cancer by deflecting the sun’s harmful rays away from the skin. Studies have shown that regular use of SPF 15 sunscreen reduces the risk of getting squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by 40% and lowers the risk of melanoma by 50%.
Sunscreen keeps skin tone and complexion even.
Sun damage to the face can make the skin look dry, wrinkled, and discolored. To prevent damage from being done, skin cells try to compensate by increasing melanin production. Melanin protects the skin from the sun’s UV rays and that is how a tan is achieved. This increased melanin production on the face can result in the formation of dark spots which are signs of sun damage.
Sunscreen is able to deflect UV rays before it inflicts too much damage and this in turn protects against the formation of dark brown spots on the face and skin discoloration. Sun damage can also cause your face to become dehydrated which can lead to a dry complexion. Using sunscreen before stepping out into the sun protects the skin against the harsh elements of the sun.
Sunscreen protects against premature aging and wrinkles.
Sunscreen can help protect against three types of sun damage which are sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging. Ultraviolet radiation can cause damage to skin cells which over time can lead to premature aging and wrinkles. This happens because the sun’s UV rays penetrate into the skin and damage the elastic fibers whose purpose is to keep the skin firm and strong. When elastic fibers get damaged, skin becomes less firm and wrinkles start to develop.
Which sunscreen should I get?
Let me first define SPF.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This is a measure of how well a sunscreen protects the skin against UVB rays. There are many different SPF such as SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 50, etc.
If your skin normally burns after 15 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would extend the time it takes for your skin to burn to 225 minutes which is a factor of 15. An SPF 30 sunscreen would extend it to 450 minutes which is a factor of 30.
SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays while SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that people use sunscreen that offers:
- Broad-spectrum protection (Protects against UVA & UVB rays)
- SPF 30 or higher
- Water Resistance
UVA and UVB rays are two types of UV light that harm the skin. For this reason, sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum protection are the best since these types of sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB.
There are other SPF such as SPF 75 and SPF 100 but most people are better off sticking to SPF 30. One reason is because SPF 75 and SPF 100 do not offer significantly better protection than SPF 30. SPF 75 blocks between 98 and 99% of UVB Rays while SPF 30 blocks 97%.
Another reason is that as SPF goes up, the ability of the sunscreen to protect against UVA rays goes down. The best balance is achieved around SPF 30 and is the most common level that is recommended for most people.
Before you head out into the sun, make sure you apply ample amounts of sunscreen to your skin.
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