We often misunderstand the concept of wearing sunscreen every day during daylight hours. According to most of us, we still think that sunscreen is a summertime thing, as there is more heat outside. In fact, some of us only wear sunscreen when we’re stepping out under direct sun exposure.
However, when you’re staying indoors, you don’t need extra light to see things due to the sunlight. Therefore, the conclusion is, you can still get the sunlight and UV rays when you’re at your home or when it’s winter. Now let us go deeper into the matter and understand why sunscreen is important in our regular skin schedule.
What is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. We find different number of SPF in different products. So what does that mean? The number of SPF determines the amount of UVB protection the product claims. Basically, SPF provides protection from UVB sun radiation that causes sunburn, skin cancer, and cell damage.
- SPF 15 blocks around 93% of UVB sun radiation.
- SPF 30 keeps out almost 97% of UVB rays.
- And, SPF 50 blocks nearly 98% of the UVB sun rays.
Suppose if you apply SPF 30, it gives you 30 times longer protection from sunburn in comparison to without sunscreen. The same policy goes for the other SPF counts as well. A higher SPF certainly protects the skin more from the UVB rays than the lower SPF counts. Though the higher SPF products lead to less skin damage, SPF amount more than 50 seems to be of no use and protects almost the same.
Why Wear a Sunscreen Every day?
The melanin within our skin is responsible for our skin complexion. Excessive sun exposure stimulates melanin production which results in hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and sunburn. A fair skin tone usually gets more burn than the skin with a darker tone. Here are certain reasons why sunscreen is a must for everyone every day.
1. Preventing Premature Ageing
The entire ageing process mostly depends on two types, i.e. intrinsic ageing and extrinsic ageing. Intrinsic ageing comes from genetics, where extrinsic ageing appears due to pollution, chemicals, excessive sun exposure, and other environmental factors. Due to the UV radiation effects, the existing collagen and elastin within our skin undergo premature breakdown, thus ultimately resulting in wrinkles and fine lines.
Especially, the UVA radiation damages melanocytes or the pigment-producing cells. Therefore, hyperpigmentation starts to get visible on the skin due to the overproduction of melanin. When it comes to the early ageing signs, 90% of its contribution comes from UV radiation. An effective sunscreen with high SPF and broad-spectrum properties protects the skin from sunburn and reduces the early signs of ageing.
2. Reducing Hyperpigmentation
Due to direct sun exposure, the skin goes through certain changes in melanin production. This is the reason behind one of the most common skin problems that appear due to UV radiation, i.e. hyperpigmentation. These are the uneven dark patches on the skin that gradually increases with time and with more sun exposure.
Sunscreen with SPF 15 or more prevents UV radiation and reduces the effects of the sun rays on the skin. A chemical sunscreen usually absorbs the sun rays and reduces their impact through chemical reactions. Whereas, a mineral sunscreen directly reflects the sun rays, so the UV rays cannot penetrate your skin, thus, reducing any sort of pigmentation.
3. Prevents Skin Cancer
Squamous cell skin cancer, basal cell skin cancer, and melanoma are the three types of skin cancer. One of the major culprits of skin cancer is the UV radiation we absorb everyday due to extreme sun exposure. Adequate and consistent use of sunscreen helps diminish the risk and protects your skin from the harmful impact of UV rays.
4. Reduces Skin Inflammation
The DNA of the immune-protecting cells majorly get affected by UV radiation. It influences oxidative stress that enables the free radicals to damage your skin cells, thus, leading to skin inflammation. Immune suppression lowers the body’s capacity to protect the skin cells from skin cancer and other skin diseases. An effective sunscreen reduces the overall sun effects and prevents the appearance of skin inflammation.
Wearing a Sunscreen Everyday.
Applying sunscreen regularly during daylight hours is a must. and reapplying it every two hours is more important to sustain the protection. Also, while stepping outside, don’t just rely on sunscreen. Use hat, sunglasses, and covered clothes to attain the ultimate protection from UV radiation.
