I scream, you scream, we all scream for… sunscreen?
Perhaps not quite as exciting as ice cream, and certainly not as tasty (please don’t eat it), sunscreen should still be a regular part of your routine. Most people have at least some understanding about the importance of using sunscreen, but many use it incorrectly, diminishing the benefits it can provide.
Let’s talk more about why you should wear sunscreen and how to use it properly to protect you and your family from the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays {internal link}.
Why is Sunscreen Important for Overall Health?
Most of us have experienced the discomfort from a severe sunburn at least once in our lives, and it hopefully served as an important lesson to remember sunscreen the next time we went outdoors. Since most sunburns subside within a few days on their own, sunburns may not seem like that big of a deal.
A minor sunburn or two may not cause major harm, but those who have had five or more sunburns double their risk of developing melanoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer. Skin cancer remains the most common type of cancer in the United States, with approximately one in five Americans developing it in their lifetime.
Getting outside and enjoying a sunny day is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Unfortunately, the sun produces harmful UV rays that can damage skin cells and create mutations in their DNA. Much of the time, our bodies can handle these mutations.
When the skin suffers from more UV damage than it can handle, some of those skin cells could eventually turn into cancer. Around 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are correlated with UV radiation from the sun. Even if you don’t typically burn and instead develop a tan, or your skin color doesn’t change much at all with sun exposure, you can still develop skin cancer because of UV rays.
The good news? When used properly, sunscreen can drastically drop a person’s risk of developing melanoma, by about 50%, even if you’ve already had many sunburns throughout your life. Someone wise once said, “The best time to start wearing sunscreen was 30 years ago. The second best time to start wearing sunscreen is today”, or something like that.
How Should I Incorporate Sunscreen Into My Daily Life?
One of the easiest ways to use sunscreen daily is by finding a face and a body lotion that already has broad-spectrum SPF ingredients in it. There are several brands available, and you can apply this product all over for a boost of moisture and sun protection. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can cause damage to your skin, so a daily sunscreen routine is crucial.
Some makeup products contain SPF, but this may not provide adequate protection. Most makeup products with “SPF” in them do not actually contain “broad spectrum SPF”, a barrier that protects the skin against multiple types of UV rays. Plus, sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, so one application in the morning likely won’t keep you protected all day long.
The best way to incorporate sunscreen into your daily life is simply to keep it handy. You can also invest in travel bottles of sunscreen, sunsticks, or individual sunscreen packets in your pockets or handbags so you always have sunscreen handy. Just be sure it doesn’t sit in a hot car for too long, as this can render sunscreen less effective.
Sun protection beyond sunscreen can also include SPF clothing, which often comes in lightweight, cooling fabrics. Wearing SPF clothing items like shirts, pants, and hats and provide an extra barrier between your skin and UV rays.
Should Sunscreen Be Used All Year?
In short, yes. Anytime that you will be outside for more than 15 minutes with your skin exposed, sunscreen is helpful in preventing skin damage. Even in cool climates in the winter, UV rays still shine down, and they can be reflected off fresh, white snow. Even if your entire body is covered when you go out in the winter, apply some facial sunscreen to your face if it will be exposed to the sun.
How Do Dermatologists Recommend I Use Sunscreen?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone uses sunscreen on days they will be spending time outside, regardless of skin tone. It also recommends that your sunscreen of choice has “broad spectrum SPF” on the label, is waterproof, and is at least SPF 30. One common sunscreen myth is that the higher a sunscreen’s SPF, the better it is. Anything over SPF 45 doesn’t necessarily provide more protection, and all sunscreens should be reapplied every 2 hours when you are outside for prolonged periods of time.
When applying sunscreen, do so about 15 minutes before going outside, and make sure you’re using enough to provide adequate coverage. Most adults need at least one ounce of sunscreen to cover their exposed skin, which is about the size of a shot glass, but this varies depending upon body size. Consider using a broad spectrum SPF lip balm too.
Using sunscreen regularly remains one of the most low-cost and effective ways to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Talk with your dermatologist {internal link} if you have questions or concerns regarding sun exposure or sunscreen, or if you find any abnormal spots {internal link} on your body.
Dietitian Ink 