The sun is a source of light and heat, but it can also give you sunburn and skin cancer. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering the UV rays before they hit your skin. The protection factor or SPF tells you how much longer your skin can be exposed to the sun before burning than when you don’t use sunscreen. Come see how important sunscreen can be to your skin-care routine.
UV rays are classified as UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA is the most common type of radiation in sunlight and damages both DNA molecules in cells and cell membranes. UVB rays are most active in direct sunlight and cause sunburn, which can lead to skin cancer. UVC rays cannot penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. The SPF is determined by comparing the time that passes before a person’s skin starts to redden when sunscreen is applied to the amount of time it takes to redden without sunscreen.
It Prevents the Signs of Aging
Sunburn and aging are linked to UV radiation. Using sunscreen prevents the sun’s damaging UV rays from damaging your skin. Most of your body is covered in melanin, which acts like an SPF. Although melanin provides natural protection from the sun, too much exposure can cause skin damage and even cancer. Sunscreen helps protect your skin from DNA damage, premature skin aging, and premature wrinkles caused by sunshine.
It Keeps Your Skin Moisturized
Prolonged sun exposure causes the skin to dry out and peel. Sunscreen helps the skin stay moisturized, which slows down the aging process. Applying sunscreen to your skin before leaving the house helps keep your skin healthy throughout the day, even after you’ve spent time in the sun. You can also use a moisturizing cream or lotion to combat dryness and flaking later in the day after returning from outdoor activities.
It Prevents Skin Discoloration
UV rays from the sun have many adverse effects. Melanin is the only organic substance that absorbs UV rays fully and protects us from cancerous cells. Sadly, however, it could also cause discoloration. Sunscreen helps retain your skin’s natural moisture, which prevents discoloration. By keeping your skin moisturized, you will have a more even-toned complexion and thus fewer blemishes and age spots.
Prolonged sun exposure can cause skin color changes, including yellowing, darkening, and even browning or reddening of the skin. When UV rays hit the skin, they turn the melanin inside your skin into free radicals. Once these free radicals are created, they either kill cells in your body or damage DNA.
Reduces Risk of Skin Cancer
Exposure to the sun causes premature aging and skin cancer. Sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer by protecting the skin from UV rays and reducing DNA damage. Large amounts of UV radiation are known to contribute to the development of melanoma, a type of skin cancer that takes up to 15 years to develop after exposure. Sunscreen can help prevent melanoma by limiting damage from excess UV radiation.
Reduces the Risk of Sun Burns
A sunburn is not only painful, but it also can cause a variety of long-term health conditions. Skin cancers are the most serious, but burns can cause skin discoloration and other long-term skin issues. Sunburns caused by UV rays damage the skin’s elasticity and promote free radical formation. If you burn your skin often enough, open wounds start to develop. The skin can also become toughened, which leads to the development of leathery skin and wrinkles.
It Reduces Inflammation
UV rays in the sun cause inflammation. Reducing the amount of inflammation you experience in the sun can help protect your skin against wrinkles and premature aging. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or illness. When inflammation occurs in your skin, you may feel pain, swelling, or redness. Your skin can become inflamed when exposed to too much sunlight. Sunscreen helps reduce inflammation by protecting the skin from UV rays that damage and destroy cells in the body.
Tips for Picking a Sunscreen
When buying sunscreen, you need to determine what protection level is most appropriate for your skin. The protection level tells you how long the sunscreen will protect your skin from burning after exposure to UV rays. Always follow the directions on the bottle. Some sunscreens contain ingredients that may cause irritation or allergic reactions if not used as instructed.
Buy a sunscreen that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Be sure to check the expiration date on the bottle to see how long it has been effective. Do not use sunscreens containing fragrances, irritants, or nanoparticles if you have sensitive skin.
Conclusion
Sunscreen is an essential part of your skincare routine to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Since sunscreens do not only protect your skin from premature aging but also skin cancer and wrinkles, it’s crucial to maintain a good skincare routine. Sunscreen is an anti-aggression product that protects your skin from its damaging effects.
