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— Albert Einstein
Why Bother To Wear Sunscreen?

Why Bother To Wear Sunscreen?

Taya Bregant
Beauty & Wellness

Now that summer is here in full swing along with rising temperatures, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the topic of sunscreen, since everyone needs to protect themselves suitably against the summer especially now in the summer when the sun is strongest.

In this blog post I wanted to take a look at into what sunscreen and SPF actually are, what are the different types of sun blocks you can buy, offer a short breakdown of how they work to protect our skin and fore mostly present the reasons for why we should be using sunscreen daily in the summer. I hope you find this summer themed piece interesting and useful for when it comes to buying and using your own protectant in the summer to protect your skin from harm.

Enjoy ☀️

WHAT IS SUNSCREEN AND SPF?

When buying sunscreen, you tend to see a SPF label on the packaging such as SPF 15 or SPF 30 so what exactly does this mean?

Well SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and it essentially tells you how long it would take the sun rays (especially UVB rays) to redden or burn your skin if you applied the sunscreen compared to the amount of time it would take to redden your skin without having applied sunscreen. So for example, SPF 50 means that it would take you approximately 50 times longer for your skin to burn than if you used no sunscreen, meaning that your skin is about 50 times more protected than without sunscreen.

SPF is designed specifically to protect agains the suns UVB rays which are mostly responsible for causing skin cancer and sunburns on our skin. UVA rays on the other hand tend to be more responsible for the aging or wrinkling of skin as well as some skin cancers. This is why you tend to see some sunscreens labeled as UVA or UVB while broad spectrum sunscreens are designed to protect against both types of sun rays, ensuring maximal protection.

TYPES OF SUNSCREENS

When it comes to sunscreens, there are two main types:

Chemical sunscreens: This type of sunscreen also known as sunscreen uses ingredients such as oxybenzone and avobenzone which are designed to primarily filter UV rays and absorb some of the rays, after which the rays are reflected back and are transformed into small amounts of heat that then dissipates from the skin. Chemical sunscreens can also be unpopular to use on some skin types since for some people they can slightly sting however the upside is that they leave minimal to none white cast.

Mineral sunscreens: Mineral sunscreens also known as sun blocks are known to most commonly contain mineral based compounds such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which are designed to block the suns UV rays and also scatter them before they are able to penetrate your skin. Mineral based sunscreens are known to cause less skin irritations but also leave more of a white case behind especially on darker skin tones. Additionally, mineral sunscreens are known to be more suitable for broad spectrum UV ray protection compared to chemical sunscreens which makes them slightly more protective.

Overall, both sunscreen types are useful, it just depends on what your skin prefers.

Broad spectrum sunscreens are designed to protect against both UVA and UVB sun rays while in the past you used to only find sunscreens which either protected against UVA (The type of rays which causes skin tanning and premature aging) or against UVB rays (The type of rays which cause sunburn and skin cancers)

HOW DO SUNSCREENS WORK?

We have already discussed briefly on how sunscreen works to protect our skin from damaging UV rays, but I wanted to explain it here in a bit more of a clear way.

Overall, sunscreens are designed to prevent the UV rays from the sun from penetrating our skin and thus protecting us from sunburns, skin aging and skin cancer.

For this protection, chemical based sunscreens function to absorb and reflect the UV rays and in doing so, convert these rays into low heat energy that then dissipates from the surface of our skin. Instead of deflecting the UV rays like in mineral sunscreens, the molecules within the sunscreen absorb UV radiation an in doing so, molecules within the sunscreen gradually break down and during this release heat.

Mineral based sunscreens on the other hand physically protect us from UV rays which both reflect and absorb UV rays, in a similar way as brighter colors such as white which reflect light more. In the past, manufacturers of mineral sunscreens made the mineral particles much larger which is why a heavy white cast was noticeable while in more modern times, these particles are much smaller so the white case is reduced. Because mineral sunscreens work to deflect rays, they are considered to be broad spectrum sunscreen since they deflect both UVA and UVB rays.

I also wanted to briefly clarify the different types of sun rays which we have to be mindful of and their effects:

UVA rays: This type of solar radiation is able to penetrate deeper into our skin and be responsible for premature wrinkling, age spots and also some skin cancers.

UVB rays: UVB rays penetrate a bit less deeply into our skin than UVA rays and are known to mostly cause sunburns as well as skin cancers.

REASONS TO WEAR SUNSCREEN

Reducing Your risk Of Skin Cancer

  • It is estimated that by the age of 70, 1 in 5 Americans will end up having skin cancer. By wearing sunscreen consistently we are able to greatly reduce our chances of developing melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma. It is best to wear sunscreen everyday (minimum SPF 30), even on days that appear cloudy or cold and if you find yourself being in water or sweating throughout the day, reapplication is necessary every two hours for maximal protection.

Preventing Premature Aging Of Your Skin

  • When we are repeatedly exposed to the sun with no protection, we can cause a lot of damage to the collagen and elastin found within our skin as well as our skin cells. This repeated unprotected exposure can over time result in wrinkles, skin discoloration, fine lines as well as a leathery appearance of the skin. This phenomenon of the aging of the skin through sun exposure is known as photo-aging.

Reducing Sunburn Risk

  • All of us have at some point likely been sunburnt by spending too much time out on the sun and wearing minimal to no sun protection. The feeling is unpleasant and painful and can later also seriously harm the skin if the burns become repetitive such as skin cancers or other skin issues. If sunburned, apply some cooling after sun lotions or if you are experiencing a severe sunburn with blisters consult with a dermatologist or ask for help in a pharmacy, but always as a precaution apply sunscreen beforehand to keep your skin protected.

Reducing Skin Inflammation

  • UV rays from the sun make our skin more red and inflamed during excessive exposure which can worsen skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis which further inflame the skin. Wearing sunscreen daily also helps to avoid such issues down the line. If you find that you have sensitive skin which is prone to redness, look for sunscreen which contain more gentle ingredient such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to protect you from the suns rays.

Preventing Skin Discoloration And Development Of Scars

  • Sun spots tend to appear in later years of our life but are greatly associated with spending a lot of time in the sun during our youth. Sun spots or also called liver spots are brown or tan areas of discoloration which can occur most commonly on out face, head, hands, arms and are known to affect both men and women. This is an issue which frequent use of sunscreen is also able to help against.

Protection From Blue Light

  • Although not all sunscreens can protect against blue light, physical sunscreen are best suited for that as they are known for being able to reflect back various light rays, such as those coming from our electronic devices.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SUNSCREEN

When it comes to choosing or buying a sunscreen, look out for the following things:

  • In the summer and especially if you spend a lot of time outside: Choosing an SPF or 30 or higher

  • In the winter time: SPF 15 or 30 should be sufficient depending on the weather of where you live

  • Try to choose a broad spectrum sunscreen

  • Water resistant sunscreens: These sunscreens are tested to be effective at protecting even after 40 minutes of spending time in water. Make sure to always reapply sunscreen every 2 hours especially if you are outdoors a lot and spend time in the water since it will get washed off eventually.

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HOW MUCH TO APPLY AND WHEN

How much?

For the face and neck do about half or one teaspoon and for the rest of the body apply generously on parts which are especially exposed to the sun such as the shoulders, abdomen, ear lobes and feet.

When?

When it comes to wearing other products on your face, sunscreen usually goes on last in order of application just to provide that maximal coverage. If your are swimming or sweating a lot or just generally spending a lot of time outdoors, reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours to ensure good coverage.

if you spend most of your days sitting down at a desk inside, second applications tend to not be necessary but adjust this depending on the intensity of the sun of where you live.

Apply sunscreen every day, especially on those summer days when the sun is at its strongest and temperatures are soaring. Also don't forget to protect your skin with other things than just sunscreen, such as clothing, hats or scarves. Be mindful to also wear sunscreen on days which appear to be cloudy as on days like this, the majority of the suns UV radiation also reaches the earth even thought it may appear to not.

🧠 KEY IDEAS

In this blog post we have discussed what sunscreen and SPF actually are as well as the types of sunscreens you can find nowadays, specifically chemical and mineral sunscreens. Next we uncovered the benefits and reasons for why we should wear sunscreen daily and lastly concluded with some practical advice on what to look for when buying sunscreen and tips for wearing.

✏️ REFERENCES

Aromatherapy - What Is It & What Is It Good For?

Aromatherapy - What Is It & What Is It Good For?
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Actually Good For You?

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Actually Good For You?

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