Many people associate sunscreen with summer to prevent sunburn. However, wearing sunscreen should be an everyday practice regardless of the season and the weather. This is important to prevent a variety of dermatological and general health concerns for individuals of every age and every skin tone.
Sun exposure is important to support our body’s production of vitamin D and calcium absorption for our bone health. However, you do not require extended sun exposure to achieve those goals, and spending too long in the sun, especially without protection, can lead to a variety of medical issues. The sun can damage your skin due to ultraviolet or UV rays, and free radicals.
This is why wearing sunscreen every day is vital to preserving your skin's aesthetic qualities and health. Incorporating it into your daily skin care regimen can make a positive difference in both the short and long term.
When looking for a sunscreen, you should check for the following properties:
- Broad-spectrum
- An SPF of at least 30
- Water-resistant
Even during the winter or when the weather is cloudy or rainy, wearing sunscreen helps protect your screen from the vast majority of sun rays that pass through, usually with a higher level of UV.
Sunscreen Protects Your Skin from Sunburn
Even spending less than 20 minutes in direct sunshine can result in sunburn. While your skin type and tone can affect your likelihood to get a sunburn, this inflammation is always possible and leads to painful redness and peeling that last several days. Repeated sunburn can lead to skin damage ranging from sunspots to skin cancer. Sunscreen is vital to protect your skin from sunburn no matter how long you stay in the sun.
Sunscreen Reduces Your Risk of Developing Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and unprotected sun exposure is a leading cause. This form of cancer can be very aggressive even for young people. Your skin is your largest organ and supports many essential bodily functions. Wearing sunscreen every day plays an active role in preventing skin cancer, especially as this practice offers cumulative protection.
Sunscreen Slows Down the Aging Process
Prolonged and/or unprotected sun exposure can accelerate the aging process and cause premature wrinkles and fine lines, especially on your face. Applying sunscreen every day helps slow down the aging process because it helps preserve your body’s natural production of collagen and keeps your skin hydrated. It can also prevent sagging.
Sunscreen Preserves Your Skin Tone
Sun damage can often result in hyperpigmentation, including dark spots and blotchy skin. It can also worsen the look of freckles and acne scars. To maintain the quality of your facial feature and overall skin appearance, wearing sunscreen is key. Consistent use of sunscreen whenever you go outside is important regardless of your skin tone but if you have hereditary skin discoloration or preexisting spots.
If you are unsure what type of sunscreen fits your skin type and conditions, talk to your dermatologist to get customized recommendations to optimize your daily skin care regimen.
If you need personable dermatological care in Burbank or its surrounding areas, contact Advanced Dermatology Center today at (818) 284-4003 to schedule a consultation!