How to Properly Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Did you know that roughly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime?

However, skin cancer is only one of the detrimental effects of not looking after your skin. If you don’t prioritize your skin health, you’ll also notice the signs of aging far sooner than you should.

Luckily there are ways that you can protect yourself from skin damage and potential cancer. The first step is getting educated about what you can do to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

If you’re interested in sun protection, read on to find out more.

Know the Dangers

There are several levels of risk when it comes to sun damage. The first, and most immediate, is sunburn. Sunburn is painful, unsightly, and can make you feel ill. In extreme cases, you may need to be hospitalized for sunstroke. Bad sunburn usually lasts a few days, and then you’ll notice your skin begin to peel within a week.

However, there’s more to it than the initial sunburn. Routine burning raises your risk of developing skin cancer exponentially. In fact, populations that live in sunny areas of the world have significantly higher incidences of skin cancer.

Although it’s one of the easier cancers to treat if caught early, skin cancer can still be lethal.

Even if you don’t develop skin cancer, failing to protect your skin will leave you with skin that looks older than your years. Wrinkles, blemishes, and inconsistencies are very common in people that don’t take skin protection seriously.

With all these risks in mind, you’ll be ready to prioritize skin protection this year.

Always Wear Sunscreen

Sunscreen isn’t just for days you think you may burn; you should wear sunscreen every day for healthy skin. Regardless of whether you’re a man, woman, or child, sunscreen is just as important.

Sunscreen helps protect against ultraviolet rays that are emitted by the sun; even on a cloudy day, there are unseen beams of UV light that still reach the earth.

There are several different types of sunscreen to choose from, each suitable for different skin types. Make sure you understand which to buy and how to use your sunscreen for the safest skincare protection.

Understand Your Sunscreen

Deciding to wear sunscreen isn’t enough; you also need to understand the different types and when they’re appropriate.

There are two main types of sunscreen: mineral and chemical. They both create a UV filter that will block the UV rays from going into your skin.

Mineral sunscreens typically sit on top of your skin and act as a physical barrier. They deflect any incoming rays away from you and protect against UVA and UVB damage.

Mineral sunscreens are effective immediately and don’t clog up pores. However, they can leave a white tint on your skin and need to be applied regularly.

Chemical sunscreens work in a slightly different way. They are absorbed directly into the skin and sit in the deeper layers of the epidermis. When UV rays hit your skin, the chemical sunscreen converts them into heat, and your body expels the heat.

These sunscreens are typically more effective, and you’ll require less product for protection. However, they don’t filter 100% of UV rays, and you need to allow at least 20 minutes for absorption after application. Additionally, they can trigger acne and other skin problems.

Apply Sunscreen Correctly

Once you’ve chosen your sunscreen type, it’s important you know how and when to apply it. This will vary significantly depending on what SPF you’ve chosen.

SPF stands for sun protection factor and can range from 5 to 50+. The SPF number refers to how long you’ll be protected while wearing it compared to if you weren’t (e.g., with SPF 20, you’ll be protected 20 times longer while wearing the sunscreen).

Many people think that SPF 50 will protect them all day; they apply it once and then forget about it. This is just as dangerous as using a lower SPF and only applying it twice.

Of course, you don’t need to apply such a great volume if you buy a chemical sunscreen, but it’s still important to read the instructions on the packet to understand precisely how much sunscreen counts as ‘one dose’ – it’s usually more than you’d think!

Overall, the most important thing is to ensure every exposed area is coated with sunscreen.

Invest In UV Protective Products

Finally, you should know that UV protection goes beyond sunscreen. There are a host of products you can buy that’ll keep you safe from the sun all year round.

You can buy UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes and even clothes such as a UV dress to help bounce harmful rays straight off you.

Although sunscreen is the most beneficial protection, don’t hold back from additional measures. When you forget to reapply your sunscreen, glasses, and protective clothing could be the difference between being okay and getting horribly burned.

Remember, as long as you’re mindful of the sun and respect it, you can still enjoy those warm rays – just ensure you use protective measures to keep yourself safe!

Sun Protection: There’s No Excuse

That’s everything you need to know about sun protection and looking after your skin. Although you may have thought sunscreen was only necessary on the hottest of summer days, this isn’t the case.

If you want to stay free from unnecessary aging and cancers, you must prioritize skincare in 2022. So, time to shop for sunscreens and UV protective materials that will keep you safe!

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