Why is sunscreen so important

It’s getting colder out and the sun isn’t as strong as it is in the summer, right?  I’ll tell you why is sunscreen so important, even in winter.

Sunscreen

We all know that it’s good to wear sunscreen because it can help us to avoid skin cancer.  We also know that UV rays are bad for us – UV is a contributor to cancer.  So, in the summer, when the sun seems the hottest and most intense, we know we should be wearing it.  When we go to the beach, we may carry it in our bag.  Granted, we may not always apply it as often as we should or at all, but we carry it in our beach bag.

But, at other times of the year, do you wear sunscreen?  Why is sunscreen so important – even in winter?

Why is sunscreen so important

The reason sunscreen is so important (no matter what time of year) is because it can not only help prevent skin cancer but it also helps in preventing premature aging.  The older we get, the less elastic our skin becomes and with the UV rays hitting our skin, it can really affect the way our skin looks.  This includes aging – which means wrinkles and fine lines.  Thankfully, sunscreen can only help wrinkles, it definitely does not cause them!  Trust me on sunscreen!

How to choose the best sunscreen

I’ve talked a lot about this topic because not all sunscreens are created equal.  You need to look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen.  Let me explain…

The difference between UVA and UVB rays

There is a difference between the types of rays:  UVA and UVB.  UVA rays are what causes premature aging and cancer.  The SPF, known as the Sun Protection Factor, measures how long the protection is.  For example, if the SPF is at 30, that means you have 30 minutes of protection vs. if you were not wearing any SPF sunscreen.  Broad spectrum means that it helps shield against both UVA and UVB rays.

There are other types of light that gets through our skin, though…

Blue light

You may have heard that blue light is damaging to your skin and that blue light can be emitted from your computer or other digital devices.  I’ll be willing to bet that you didn’t know that your skin can also be damaged from blue light from the sun.  Blue light damage to the skin shows up as redness, swelling, and even hyperpigmentation.  Unfortunately, many sunscreens don’t protect against blue light but some do.

So, for these reasons, that is why sunscreen is so important.  I like to look for a mineral coral free sunscreen.  In that way, I’m also not doing damage to the environment.

Tips

If you’re wondering how much sunscreen you should use on your body, here are some tips:

Use about a 1/2 to 3/4 tsp on your face and neck and about 2-3 Tbsp for your body.  That should give you adequate coverage.  Remember that you should always reapply if you’ve been in the water or have been sweating.  Another time to reapply is generally after about 80 minutes.

For more information, check out these articles:

• 2 safest sunscreen ingredients
• 6 ingredients in sunscreen to avoid