Why Is It Actually Important To Wear Sunscreens?

Simply put, everybody should! Not all skin is the same.

The amount of pigment in the skin varies from person to person. That is why some people will have higher sensitivity to the sun and burn easily, and never tan. Some people will experience a little bit of tanning but a lot of burning.

Then there are those who tan easily and quickly yet rarely burn.

It seems to make sense that for those who are not as sun-sensitive there should be less worry about sun exposure. Unfortunately that is not the case. While some people are not prone to sunburns, they are still at risk of developing melanoma, the most prevalent form of skin cancer. Nobody is immune to the risk and everyone should wear sunscreens! Why?

The sun's rays consist of two types of hazardous ultra-violet rays, UVA and UVB.

The UVB rays are the ones that cause the sunburn. Of course with each sunburn a person gets, his or her chances of skin cancer are increased. That is not the only danger.

There are also the UVA rays to consider.

These rays do not cause burning but they do penetrate deeper into the skin, affecting the body's immune system and stifling how it combats cancer. Both kinds of UV rays do their part in increasing cancer risks. Even people who do not getting frequent sunburns, should still be concerned about exposure to both types of UV rays. Sunscreens block out these rays.

It is very important to wear sunblock whenever you will be outside in the sun for a long time, like a day at the beach. That stands to reason. But sunscreens are also important for even minimal time in the sun. Even just a few minutes in the sun increases the risk; just walking from and back to your car counts! Believe it or not, sun exposure is even a risk when you are inside. This is because unlike UVB rays that cannot penetrate glass, UVA rays are not blocked out by glass.

If that sounds unlikely, think about this: Have you had or has anyone you know had one of their arms tanner than the other?

The tan arm is the one exposed frequently to sunlight coming in through the car window. Even extremely fair people who almost never tan will have a tan arm. And yet they never got sunburn!

The arm is exposed to UVA rays everyday and the damage is being done. Sunscreens are given an 'SPF' rating. What is SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This number compares the amount of time a person will burn with the sunscreen as opposed to without it.

It only refers to the amount of time it will take to burn. For example, let's look at SPF 10. This means that a person who would normally burn in 10 minutes, will burn in 10x that time, or 100 minutes (a little over an hour and a half. )Along with a high SPF, you will also want to check for ray-blocking ingredients. Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octyl salicylate, Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Ecamsule, Menthyl anthranilate, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, and Zinc oxide are some of the effective ones to look for. To help prevent skin cancer, it is important to limit sun exposure. Wear hats, keep yourself covered up, try to find a shady spot whenever you are outside and always apply sunscreens!
When you go outside into the sun for a long length of time, make sure you apply sunscreen . Sunscreens will help protect your skin. Remember to research it and find the best for the ultimate protection.

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