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We know that wearing sunscreen keeps us from getting sunburned, but why else should you wear sunscreen? Here are four other reasons why you should wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s not summertime.
Did you know that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States? Here are a few statistics to illustrate this point:
When you were a child, your parent was the one reminding you to put on sunscreen before you went out to play. Today, it’s up to you to keep your skin protected and decrease your risk of skin cancer.
You might think that wrinkles and leathery skin come only with time, but sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) light are major causes of wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. This is called photoaging.
Photoaging accounts for much of the visible change in skin over time. Other light, including visible (HEV) and infrared light, may also contribute to premature skin aging.
UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis (middle layer of the skin) and damage collagen fibers. This damage leads to increased production of abnormal elastin, which results in the production of enzymes called metalloproteinases. These enzymes rebuild damaged collagen and frequently malfunction and degrade the collagen, causing skin to rebuild abnormally.
Repeated exposure to UVA rays and the resulting abnormal rebuilding of the skin and loss of collagen causes the formation of wrinkles and leads to leathery skin.
The bottom line is that daily sunscreen can help protect your skin from damage that is harder to improve later.
Sure, you can use creams, serums and peels to even out your skin tone. But your first line of defense should be sunscreen.
Daily sunscreen helps protect against the sun exposure that causes dark spots and uneven pigmentation. Over time, consistent use may also help the skin look clearer.
If you think back to science class in grade school, you’ll remember learning about the ozone layer. The ozone layer acts as the Earth’s sunscreen by providing an invisible barrier to protect all life forms from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays.
When less of the sun’s UV radiation is filtered out, more of it can reach the skin, which is one more reason daily protection matters.
To protect your skin, wear sunscreen. Or better yet, avoid direct sun exposure on days with high UV radiation. Protecting your skin now may lower the need for products and treatments to address sun damage later.
