Learn about Sun Protection and the Benefits of Sunscreen
Skincare is an essential part of regular life. Excessive stress, constant work, bad food habits, etc, often negatively impact our lives. Although you can get rid of most of these problems by building some healthy habits, what about sun protection?
Excessive sun exposure makes our skin look dull and dry. It is also the reason for hyperpigmentation and blotchy skin, leading to a lack of confidence and life-threatening diseases such as skin cancer. But what if I tell you that a simple step like applying a suitable sunscreen to can have a big impact on your skin?
Yes, you heard that right! You can confidently step outside without any concern for skin damage. All you need to do is understand proper sun protection and purchase the best sunscreen suitable for your skin type. In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about sun protection and sunscreen application.
What Should You Know about Sun Protection?
People often think sunscreen provides significant protection against UV rays and plays an important role in retaining soft and glowing skin. However, have you ever considered that there could be more to it?
Yes! Proper sun protection requires in-depth knowledge about SPF, PA+++, and more. So, let’s discuss all the necessary factors you need to know about sun protection before you purchase a sunscreen.
What Is PA+++?
We often hear about UVB rays and how they affect our skin. But we rarely hear about UVA rays and their negative impact on human skin. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin compared to UVB rays, causing long-term skin damage, premature aging, etc.
PA is considered to be the Protection Grade of UVA with a significant ‘+’ sign beside it. This indicates how much protection a specific sunscreen containing PA can provide to the human body. For example, if a sunscreen with PA has one ‘+’ symbol, it offers a little protection from the UVA rays. On the other hand, if a sunscreen containing PA has ‘+++’, it indicates the highest defense against UVA rays, which means the more the number of ‘+’ signs, the higher the level of protection provided.
What is SPF?
The full form of SPF is ‘Sun Protection Factor’. Unlike PA, it is a measurement term indicating sunscreen’s ability to protect our skin from UVB rays, which are the main cause of skin cancer and sunburn. The higher the SPF, the more protection it can provide. For example, if you experience sunburn often and your skin starts burning after ten minutes of sun exposure, you can consider a sunscreen with SPF 30.
However, there are some external factors, such as skin type, sweat, etc, that can play a significant role in selecting a sunscreen suitable for your skin type. So, it is advisable to consider the external factors before picking a sunscreen for regular use.
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Sunscreen
Whether you buy sunscreen for men or women, understanding the crucial factors about it is the only smart step you can take. People with different skin types often experience various skin problems. So, you may need protection from different skin-related issues, which might not match with others. So, here are some of the most important factors you need to consider while purchasing a sunscreen.
1. Skin Type
You need to have a complete idea about your skin type before you purchase sunscreen. For example, a sunscreen for dry skin may not be suitable for individuals with oily skin. So, you can choose an oil-free and lightweight product that will not weigh down your skin. On the other hand, you can select a moisturizing sunscreen if you have dry skin.
2. Choose Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
If you want to provide extra protection to your skin, you need to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. This term, broad-spectrum sunscreen refers to those that provide significant protection to our skin from UVA and UVB rays. It is a combination of inorganic and organic compounds useful to scatter UV rays. So, if you want to protect your skin from various problems like sunburn, premature aging, etc, choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is always a good choice.
3. Consider Your Lifestyle First
Your lifestyle or daily sun exposure determines the type of sunscreen you choose. For example, choose a water-resistant sunscreen if your work demands excessive sun exposure. On the other hand, if you want to moisturize your dry skin, consider buying a sunscreen with enough moisturizing effect.
Advantages of Using Sunscreen
If using sunscreen makes you think about greasy skin, it is time to reconsider. Applying the right sunscreen on your face and body can offer multiple benefits. Although the benefits of sunscreen may not be visible instantly, over time, you will be able to see the positive effects of constant sunscreen application.
So, here are some benefits of sunscreen that you may enjoy down the line if you apply it to your skin.
1. Provides Protection from UV Rays
One of the most common sunscreen benefits for skin is that it prevents UV rays from damaging our skin. These rays can penetrate our skin and affect the skin cells negatively, which causes DNA mutation, further leading to cancer. However, you can avoid such a dangerous disease by consistently applying sunscreen to the face and body, as it can block the UV rays from penetrating our skin.
2. Prevents or Decreases the Chances of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer all around the world. The chances of suffering from skin cancer have increased nowadays due to excessive sun exposure. However, providing a strong layer to the skin by applying sunscreen can prevent the UV rays from affecting our health negatively. So, regular use of sunscreen is extremely essential to reduce the chances of skin cancer.
3. Protects from Sunburns
Excessive sun exposure can cause redness in the skin or sunburn, which can lead to pain and peeling. However, individuals who need to expose themselves to the sun can protect themselves from unwanted UV radiation by applying a suitable sunscreen. It blocks the UV radiation before it can penetrate the skin, avoiding further damage.
4. Works Wonder to Improve Overall Skin Texture
If you expose yourself to the sun ray too much, it sucks the smoothness of your skin, making it appear dry, dull, and lifeless. But you can improve your skin texture by protecting it from UV radiation. All you need to do is apply the right sunscreen throughout the day.
5. Helps to Reduce Brown and Grey Patches
People often experience brown and grey patches on the skin, especially on the face. This condition is called Melasma, which can get worse if your body absorbs excessive UV radiation due to sun exposure. However, consistent sunscreen application can reduce its formation, preventing further damage to the skin.
6. Easy Application
Unlike face masks, sunscreen does not take up much of your time. It is an easy-to-use product that can be applied quickly. You can take a little bit of the sunscreen on your palm and smear it wherever required. You can also find sunscreen in spray form. All you need to do is simply spray and rub them if necessary, and enjoy all their benefits.
7. Protects from Unwanted Sunspots
Many people suffer from sunspots. It resembles the pigmented areas of the face, but they are generally smaller in size. The sunspots occur from the sun exposure and make the skin look dull. However, you can get rid of them by applying a layer of sunscreen to protect your skin from further damage.
8. Best Remedy for Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common problems people face these days. But the most negative aspect of this skin problem is that it does not go away that easily. So, the best way to eliminate hyperpigmentation is to prevent it from forming on your skin. The right application of sunscreen can help you prevent the formation of hyperpigmentation by blocking UV radiation from penetrating the skin cells.
9. Protects from Blotchy Skin
Blotchy skin or the visible red and purple patches is another problem that you might face due to extreme sun exposure. It happens because UV rays enhance the blood vessels present in the face. However, you can apply any suitable sunscreen to prevent this from happening and help your skin look radiant and smooth.
With the constant growth of pollution and global warming, sunscreen has become a part of our regular lives. However, choosing the right one is what makes the difference. So, select the best sunscreen only after having a proper understanding of sun protection, such as skin type, protection level, and the consequences.