Beauty · Cosmetic & Personal Care ·
Sunscreen Facts
ONE in FIVE Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer and this number is growing due to increased ultraviolet exposure from the sun and tanning beds.
Still not convinced you need to lather up before your next outing? Here are 6 reasons why wearing sunscreen is important.
✓ Decreases your risk of developing cancer: using sunscreen daily even when it is cloudy, raining, winter... yes, WINTER! It will dramatically decreases your risk of developing skin cancer. This is especially true of the deadliest form, melanoma, which is responsible for 75% of all skin cancer deaths.
✓ Keeps you looking young: the #1 cause of premature aging of the face is ultraviolet exposure! By wearing sunscreen, you are slowing down the development of wrinkles and leathery skin.
✓ Even skin tone: In addition to slowing aging of the skin, sunscreen prevents facial brown spots and skin discolouration.
✓ The ozone layer is depleting: the ozone acts as a sun shield for the earth by absorbing harmful UVB rays before they reach the ground. As the ozone layer depletes, your body needs added protection from these harmful rays.
✓ Important for ALL skin types: even if you don’t burn easily, wearing sunscreen is still important. Sunburn is an immediate reaction, but sun damage occurs over a lifetime. Although skin cancer is more prevalent in people with lighter skin, it does not discriminate and can still affect those with darker skin. Applying sunscreen in the morning does not keep you protected all day. You must re-apply every 2 hours when you’re exposed to the sun for an extended amount of time. If you apply sunscreen then go into the water, you will need to re-apply as the water washed it all off. It’s the little things everyday like driving from point A to point B while the sun beams through the window.
✓ Sunscreen protects you from more than sunburn: if you have ever had sunburn, you understand just how unpleasant red, burning skin can be. Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are two other extremely nasty health issues that can arise from extended sun exposure. Sunscreen, in combination with other precautions such as increased consumption of water, can help you avoid these issues, which can lead to nausea, muscle cramps and even brain damage if left untreated.
It is never too late to start integrating safe-sun practices into your life. In addition to wearing sunscreen, you can help protect yourself from harmful rays by wearing a hat, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing and by limiting your sun exposure, especially during the most intense times of the day from 12pm to 4pm!