Sun protection - is it really as important as people say?

I’m sure you’ve been told countless times about the importance of using sunscreen to protect your skin, and you won’t hear anything different from me. I'm here to reiterate and provide evidence for how vital it really is to be shielding yourself from the sun's UV rays. Especially due to the trend of tanning and laying in the sun for hours, it is imperative people understand the dangers and threat the sun could pose towards your skin.

After reading the science, you’ll become as much a sunscreen advocate as anyone else. Through reading this blog, you’ll also learn how SPF works, how to apply it effectively and how to choose the most suitable one for your skin.

UV Rays - how harmful can they be ?

The short answer is extremely harmful. 

When people talk about protecting your skin from the sun, what they really mean is protecting your skin from the ultraviolet radiation in the suns rays. 

UV rays are categorised into three main groups, UVA, UVB and UVC, the grouping being based on decreasing wavelength accordingly. As wavelength decreases, their frequency and energy they carry increases, therefore making them more harmful.

UVA rays which have the largest wavelength, are the most penetrating and therefore they can get through deep into your skin, which is the main cause of premature aging, formation of wrinkles and DNA damage.

While most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, its radiation is stronger than UVA rays and they affect the surface of the skin. These rays are responsible for sunburns and greatly increase your skin cancer risk, thus they’re extremely dangerous.

In theory UVC rays, due to them having the shortest wavelengths, would be the most dangerous type of ultraviolet radiation. However, they are of no great concern since they’re completely absorbed by the atmosphere and ozone layer and so (thankfully) they don't even reach us or our skin. 

Now you’ve learned about why you should protect your skin, here's how !

Application 

Apply your SPF!!!

As a set of general rules, 

• Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure

• Apply generously

• Reapply every two hours 

  
  

Generously, being a lot more than you think you need. Roughly the size of a golf ball is the recommended amount to cover your entire body. 

It's important to remember sunscreen is not conditional, no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing SPF should be applied regardless. Even for 10 minutes of sun exposure. Even in cloudy weather. As the sunlight may be blocked but the UV rays are not, and it’s simply not worth the risk.

Choosing a sunscreen

1. SPF 30 or higher

   
   

The Sun Protection Factor of your sunscreen should be at least 30. 

The way SPF works is by absorbing and reflecting the sun rays, however not all SPFs work against UVA rays, which is why you have to pay attention to your ingredients and opt for a sunscreen that works against different UV rays.

Sunscreens use two main types of active ingredients: chemical and physical filters.

2. Chemical filters

   
   

The Chemical filters act almost like a sponge, they absorb the UV rays instead of your skin and then release them in the form of heat.

Some common examples to look for on the back of a sunscreen bottle are: avobenzone, oxybenzone and octinoxate .

3. Physical filters

   
   

On the other hand, the physical filters work by sitting on the skin surface and scattering or reflecting the sun rays. The two ingredients most commonly used are Titanium Oxide and Zinc Oxide. Make sure to choose a sunscreen containing both these as they will block both UVB and UVA rays (which not all sunscreens do)and are known to be gentle on sensitive skin.

4. Other 

   
   

Many other ingredients are added to enhance the overall efficiency, practicality and formula of the sunscreen, for example stabilizers such as antioxidants, film forming agents for water resistance, or emulsifiers. 

More specifically, the ingredient Octocrylene is used to prevent the degradation of the chemical stabilizers when exposed to UV light. Or moisturizers and emollients are added to prevent dryness, and give you multiple benefits in one product.

In Conclusion

I do hope you take from this the importance of applying your sunscreen, whether you’re old or young and whether you’re skiing or tanning. For the sake of your overall skin health and safety as the sun not only is damaging to your skin aesthetically but it really can be dangerous if the proper precautions aren’t taken.