Sunscreen is a must-have component in everyone’s skincare routine. Applying an SPF product on your skin routinely helps protect your skin from damage by harmful sun rays. Although sunscreen is a year-round skincare regimen, it’s imperative during the sunny months of summer. Whether you’re by the pool, driving to work, on vacation, or simply lounging in your front yard, you need sunscreen. Sunscreen use applies to all genders, age groups, and skin tones.
Summer Skin Care Includes Sunscreen
Here are a few reasons why sunscreen is so important when spending time outdoors this summer.
Helps Prevent Premature Signs of Aging
Repeated exposure to the sun’s UV rays is known to cause premature aging—also known as photoaging. This process damages skin structures via UV radiation resulting in skin discoloration, a leathery texture, and increased wrinkles or age lines. An article by the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that photoaging is responsible for approximately 90% of all visible skin changes.
Takeaway? Sunscreen may not be the proverbial fountain of youth, but it helps skin maintain a youthful appearance longer.
Reduces the Risk of Skin Cancer
The American Cancer Society notes that “skin cancers are linked to certain behaviors that put people in the sun, as well as several markers of sun exposure.” These markers and behaviors linked to skin cancer risk include time spent in the sun, sunburns, and sun damage signs. Some studies by the Skin Cancer Foundation suggest that sunscreen may reduce the risk of skin cancers by up to 50%.
Protect the Skin from Sun Damage
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it takes a mere 15 minutes for UV rays to wreak havoc on human skin. And worse still, the damage and risk of developing cancer add up over time. Due to the ozone layer’s depletion, we are at a higher risk of sun damage from harmful UVB-type rays. Some types of skin damage include sunburns and telangiectasis (thinning of blood vessels).
Applying sunscreen products with an SPF of at least 15 creates a protective layer between your delicate skin and the unforgiving sun rays.
Maintain an Even Skin Tone
Sunscreen may serve as a cosmetic skin care function by helping smooth out skin discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots. It prevents the formation of age spots, peeling from sunburns, and immediate redness following exposure to the sun.
Please note that both lighter and darker skin tones are susceptible to facial hyperpigmentation with repeated exposure to sun rays.
BodyLase
In a nutshell, don’t go out (or stay in) without giving your skin the proper protection it deserves. Slather a generous layer of quality SPF products to keep harmful UV rays at bay. For more skin care recommendations or queries, contact BodyLase at 919-954-2288 (Raleigh) or 919-851-8989 (Cary).
