Sunscreens And Skin Care

By Sheila Halluem


Our skin is delicate and fragile and needs protecting at all times. In the summer months, it is always nice to enjoy the sunshine with friends and family. Too much sun exposure will be damaging to your skin, and the longer you stay in the sun, the worse it will be. The hot summer months are the most important time of the year to use sunscreen to protect your delicate skin. Below, we will have a look at the benefits of sunscreen, and learn a little bit more about them.

Why should we wear sunscreen?

The ozone layer stops much of the ultraviolet light coming from the sun, but not all. There are some UV rays that do slip through the ozone, and these can be damaging to the skin. Over-stimulation of skin cell production is one of the results that having damaged skin can produce. This can lead to skin cancer. Growth of moles is also a consequence, and cancer can form within them as well. Melanoma is the term given to this.

There are two kinds of ultraviolet light that are emitted by the sun. One type is called UVA, the other, UVB. These two forms can penetrate the skin and affect the immune system within the skin. Wrinkles can also be formed more quickly from this, and sunburns can happen as well. People can avoid most damage from UV rays by using sunscreen that will block these harmful rays.

SPF means what, exactly?

When purchasing sunscreens at the drugstore or at the supermarket, you will have noticed that all sunscreens have the label 'SPF' on them, followed by a number. Although UVA has no standard for measure, the SPF (sun protection factor) can measure how much UVB will be reflected away from our skin. The amount of time it takes for a sunburn to occur from UVB ray penetration can be calculated using SPF as well.

There are different strengths of sunscreens are available with SPF numbers ranging from 15 to 60. In theory, the higher the SPF number, the better the protection. However, this is not exactly true and it is recommended that a sunscreen with an SPF of more than 15 be used to adequately protect the skin.

What is in sunscreen?

Sunscreens have various ingredients that are designed to keep the skin from harm. Some other common ingredients that should be present in sunscreens include octyl salicylate, sulisobenzone and avobenzone.

Typically, sunscreens come in either a spray or a cream form. It doesn't matter which you go with, they do the same job.

What risks are involved with sunscreen, if any?

Concerns have been raised about certain ingredients within sunscreens. One such concern was the risk of developing skin cancer, but extensive studies have not shown that sunscreens do not cause melanomas. Sunscreen ingredients such as Oxybenzone are oestrogen-based compounds that can get absorbed by the skin and alter hormone levels. Despite those ideas, studies have proven that it is untrue, and the body just gets rid of these compounds quickly and easily.

Sunscreen has incredible benefits, and the risks are almost nil, so it's a wise decision to use it.

Summary

Summer is the most important time to be conscious of skin care. Protection from the damaging ultraviolet rays using sunscreen will help minimize the chance of developing skin cancer at a later time. Sunscreen should be applied liberally in the hot summer weather.




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