by McKenzie L.
It’s a gorgeous day outside. The sun is shining and the weather is warm, so you head outdoors. Before you can frolic in the wilderness, however, you need one important thing: sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen can improve your health and decrease the risks of skin cancer, not to mention preventing nasty and painful sunburns. So ditch the tan and apply your SPF regularly.
It’s a gorgeous day outside. The sun is shining and the weather is warm, so you head outdoors. Before you can frolic in the wilderness, however, you need one important thing: sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen can improve your health and decrease the risks of skin cancer, not to mention preventing nasty and painful sunburns. So ditch the tan and apply your SPF regularly.
The most obvious effects of too much sun in one’s earlier years are wrinkles and dark spots. While vitamin D is crucial to your body, too much sun exposure causes damage to your skin, resulting in unattractive wrinkles. This damage is caused by UV rays, which are radiated by the sun. There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. UVB rays are shorter, and cause sunburns. UVA rays are longer and can hurt the skin at a deeper level, even though the surface may be cool. It is important to use sunscreen with protection against both UVA and UVB rays. The higher the SPF (sun protection factor) of the sunscreen, the more protection against the sun’s harmful rays. To prevent sun damage to the eyes, wear sunglasses with UV protection.
Too much sun is linked to a higher rate of skin cancer. Skin cancer is a dangerous and life threatening illness, and it is caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning machines. In fact, the EPA estimates that 90% of melanoma cases are the result of too much sun. Decreasing one’s risk for skin cancer is as simple as applying sunscreen regularly, or every 2 hours, when outside. Many people believe that acquiring a so-called base tan prevents burning later on. This is false. The warm brown color that accompanies a tan is the body’s natural response to DNA damage. If you really feel the need to be tan, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends spray on tans and self tanner.
Sunburns are painful, and they can also damage you later in life. It is estimated that intermittent, intense sunburns are much more dangerous than chronic sun exposure. One blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk for melanoma in adulthood. One day of forgotten sunscreen can have devastating consequences to your future.
Sunburns are painful, and they can also damage you later in life. It is estimated that intermittent, intense sunburns are much more dangerous than chronic sun exposure. One blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk for melanoma in adulthood. One day of forgotten sunscreen can have devastating consequences to your future.
Sunscreen products nowadays are prevalent and appealing to many different demographics. There are many makeup products with SPF in them, and some sunscreens are specifically designed for children. Spray-on sunscreens are easy to use and effective, and remain popular with people who dislike the time-consuming lotion alternative. There are sunscreen sticks sold for easy application to the face, and countless other products aimed to create the optimal sunscreen experience.
Applying sunscreen is simple, and it could one day save your life. Block out the UV rays and try not to soak up too much sun, and your skin will look better and feel better. Enjoy your time outside, but make sure to remember your sunscreen!
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| image courtesy of the Skin Cancer Foundation |
For more information about sunscreen and skin cancer, visit: http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/the-skin-cancer-foundations-guide-to-sunscreens
Works Cited
Cleveland Clinic - Risks of Sun Exposure, Sun Damage, Using Sunscreen. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 26, 2014, from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/skin_care/hic_protecting_yourself_from_sun_damage.
Oliver, D. (2013, June 19). Sunscreen Benefits: 5 Reasons You Should Always Wear It. The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/sunscreen-benefits_n_3464687.html
Skin Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). The Skin Cancer Foundation's Guide to Sunscreens. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/the-skin-cancer-foundations-guide-to-sunscreens
Why is it important to use sunscreen? -- Spray Sunscreen, Spray SPF, Sun Block. (n.d.). Why is it important to use sunscreen? -- Spray Sunscreen, Spray SPF, Sun Block. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.sprayspf.com/whyusesunscreen.html
image: Skin Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). Sunscreen. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen
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