Why You Should Always Have Sunscreens

by Jake Zertosky on January 19, 2010

A crucial part of skin care is using sunscreen. There are lots of brands of sunscreens on the market today. They fight harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun and protect against cancer and sunburn. Another concern is premature aging.

The rays that are cancer causing are UVB and UVA rays. Skin cancer is the number one form of cancer in the U. S. Today, with over a million cases reported every year. UVR damages the layers of skin and dries it out, and repeated exposures can cause liver spots. The skin’s supple appearance is compromised.

An SPF of fifteen or more is your best bet for protecting against the sun’s dangerous rays. Certain moisturizers and men’s aftershave contain sunscreen and can be used for daily protection. Look around for different kind and see if you can get one that has sunscreen in it for the best protection.

Sun damage can harm the skin in more ways than one, causing premature sagging, wrinkles, and aging. The damage can’t be seen on the surface but lurks underneath. The skin can appear weathered and older than it should with too much exposure.

Photoaging causes lines around the eyes and once it has damaged the skin is hard to combat and revers. The best thing is to not have sun damage in the first place. Laser surgery and creams are also options.

Adults over the age of six are recommended to wear sunscreen. Children under six should not be exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time. Even if it’s cloudy outside, the sun’s rays can still be harmful. After swimming or sweating, sunscreen should be reapplied.

If you like to tan and don’t burn and still want to be in the sun yet tan, try to at least use a tanner that has sunscreen in it. This way you’ll still get tan but the most harmful rays will be blocked. It just takes a little longer for the skin to tan with this applied. There are also self tanning sprays and lotions that don’t leave the skin orange.

A self tanning product is low risk and dyes the top layer of skin only. The worst that can happen is an allergic reaction or a rash. Some self tanners contain SPF, so be sure to at least have an SPF of 15 to have maximum protection.

Shop around for different types of sunscreen. Some have more protection than others and some are better at deflecting the sun’s rays. There are even some products that are said to provide one hundred percent protection from the sun. Check the label before buying.

It’s always a good idea to wear sunblock or lotions before going out for a long time in the sun. Your skin will appear more youthful in the long run and be more healthy, and have less damage due to sun related exposure, so be sure to always use sunscreen out on the water or when swimming and sunbathing, reapplying each time afterwards.

Using sunscreen is an important part of skincare. It helps protect from the sun’s dangerous ultra-violet (UV) rays while protecting against harmful sunburn. More info on sunscreens .