Sunscreen is one of the most essential products you need for vibrant skin health. It protects the skin from harmful UV rays while locking in much-needed moisture. But sunscreen benefits go far beyond sunburn prevention. This powerhouse of a skincare product boasts numerous benefits to help your skin stay healthy and beautiful.
Before we dive into the many benefits of wearing sunscreen, let’s explore the types of sunscreens available to help you determine the best product for you. When choosing a sunscreen, be sure to read the label carefully. You will want to know what ingredients are in the product, the sun protection factor (SPF), and how often you should reapply.
A general rule of thumb is to keep your eyes peeled for broad-spectrum SPF. This means the sunscreen blocks UVA and UVB rays. Next, look at the SPF and choose a product with an SPF of 15 or higher. Other considerations include choosing a separate sunscreen for your face versus the rest of your body. If you are prone to breakouts or have sensitive skin, you may want a specifically designed sunscreen tailored to the delicate texture of facial skin.
When it comes to sprays or creams, sunscreen sprays are very convenient for on-the-go applications. However, you’re more likely to miss a spot or two since those products are designed to be “invisible.” If you don’t know where you applied and did not apply sunscreen, you’re reducing your sun protection. Creams take a little more finesse to apply and absorb into your skin, but they provide excellent coverage. Sunscreen sticks are good for spot coverage, such as boosting protection around your eyes and on your nose.
Always apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure to give the product time to work. Read the label to determine how often you should reapply. Take note if you sweat excessively or spend quality time in the water. These elements can help wipe away sunscreen faster, making it necessary to reapply more often.
When Do I Need to Wear Sunscreen?
The answer may surprise you. Most people apply sunscreen before a long day at the beach or if you’re going to spend quality time outside. However, you should apply sunscreen every day, no matter the weather.
For example, the sun’s UV rays still reach the earth even on cloudy days. You can experience sun damage by prolonged sun exposure on an overcast day. Along the same lines, UVA light can pass through windows, reaching your skin even when you are indoors. This can happen if you’re driving long distances with the sun beaming down on your arm or spending a lot of time in a room where the sun shines through the window.
If you live, work, or play in high altitudes, you’ll also want to slather on some sunscreen daily. Higher altitude means you’re closer in proximity to the sun. This means it takes less exposure time to cause significant sun damage.
While it may be tempting to pack away the sunscreen as the seasons change, you need to keep it handy, especially in winter. The sun’s rays can still pack a damaging punch as the temperatures drop. At the very least, apply sunscreen to your face, neck, ears, and scalp.
7 Benefits of Wearing Sunscreen
Now that we’ve had this little introduction, let’s look at the benefits of wearing sunscreen.
Prevents Premature Aging – Sun damage is the primary cause of skin aging. And it can start with your first blistering sunburn. Sun damage can cause skin discoloration, fine lines, and wrinkles, which are signs of premature aging. Wearing sunscreen helps block harmful UV and UVB rays, lowering your risk of sun damage.
Can Help Prevent Broken Blood Vessels – The sun’s ability to damage skin goes far beyond skin deep. In fact, UV rays can actually wreak havoc on your blood vessel walls within your skin. The harmful rays thin the blood vessel walls, making them fragile. While this doesn’t necessarily mean your health is in danger, it does mean you may see an increase in bleeding or bruising on the skin’s surface where the blood vessels are damaged. Sunscreen can help protect your skin’s blood vessels as well.
Promotes an Even Skin Tone – Since sunscreen helps prevent sunspots, hyperpigmentation, and other skin discoloration typically caused by sun damage, sunscreen helps promote a nice and even skin tone. Uniform skin tones are signature traits of young and healthy skin.
Prevents Sunburn – No sunburn means no inflammation. Let’s face it, sunburns can be painful and lead to overall body discomfort, lack of sleep, and even flu-like symptoms. Wearing sunscreen can reduce the sun’s negative impact on the body in various ways.
Extra Moisturizer – Ever notice how soft your skin feels after applying sunscreen? Whenever you complete a morning skincare routine, you should always end with sunscreen. Sunscreen can aid your existing moisturizer by locking in nutrients and preventing your skin from drying out quickly.
Reduces the Risk of Skin Cancer – Skin cancer is highly preventable. When you wear sunscreen, you reduce the risk of severe sunburns and sun damage which can lead to carcinomas or very aggressive melanoma. Remember, you can get skin cancer in odd places such as between your toes, your forehead, the tip of your nose, and even your scalp.
Promotes Skin Health – When your skin isn’t trying to repair itself from trauma, it can do what it is meant to do by producing proteins like collagen and elastin. These proteins are vital for healthy, glowing, and radiant skin. Sunscreen helps protect the mechanisms that put these proteins in motion.
Supporting Sun Damaged Skin
With these sunscreen benefits in mind, you may wonder what to do if your skin has sun damage. There are a few things you can try. The first step is to see just how damaged your skin actually is. You can do this by requesting the Smart Mirror Skin-Scanner, a state-of-the-art advanced skin issue detection system that uses artificial intelligence and image analysis to determine the state of your skin and the layers beneath the surface. The Smart Mirror Skin-Scanner can detect a broad range of skin damage issues, while a trusted practitioner will recommend the best skin treatment for your skin type and skincare goals.
Assuming you have significant visible sun damage, you may want to consider a rejuvenation treatment such as The Halo™ Laser Treatment. This unique treatment uses two fractional lasers simultaneously to encourage natural textural change. It stimulates collagen production for new skin cells to replace damaged ones. Patients can expect significant textural changes, an even skin tone, and best of all, the “Halo Glow,” which is a healthy, radiant, youthful glow after the skin has healed.
You may also consider treatment options such as chemical peels or microneedling to stimulate new collagen production. There are many safe, effective, and convenient procedures available that can help with skin renewal.
Make Sunscreen a Priority
Wearing sunscreen should be a daily habit, regardless of your time indoors or outdoors. If you haven’t already, seek the best sunscreen for your skin type and activity needs. Add it to your daily beauty routine. There are so many different sunscreen options on the market, you are bound to find the right formula for you.
If you need help selecting the right product or are interested in the Smart Mirror Skin-Scan or Halo™ Laser Treatment, you should book a consultation with First Impressions Rejuvenation Clinic. The incredibly talented and knowledgeable staff welcome any questions you may have so you can put your best face forward. Remember, you’re worth it!
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