The importance of wearing sunscreen in 2020
Even when it is overcast, up to 80% of the sun’s rays are still being absorbed by our skin. Did you know in the presence of snow it can nearly double the amount of ultraviolet radiation into our skin? This means that every single day of the year no matter what the weather is like if you were outside even for 10 minutes( or less with individuals with paler skin) you need to be wearing sunscreen.
When you are outside you are constantly being exposed to UV radiation UV radiation can even penetrate through the clouds so it is important to even wear SPF on cloudy days. By not wearing SPF you will accumulate sun damage in the skin which can lead to developing cancerous lesions later in life. Around the age of 40 sun damage appears on the surface of the skin most commonly on the face, hands, and shoulders as brown spots. There can also be a lot of broken capillaries. By wearing sunscreen everyday we can prevent how much brown spots show up in our skin later in life.
Fine lines, wrinkles and loose skin are also caused buy sun damage accumulation. We should think of wearing sunscreen as not only preventing skin cancer but also by slowing down the aging process. Even fluorescent lighting which is in most office buildings can cause the same effect on the skin as the sun, therefore even people working indoors should be wearing a minimum SPF. 15 SPF is no longer the minimum recommended percentage . Most dermatologists are now recommending a minimum of 30 to 50 SPF.
There are two types of sunscreens one is a chemical sunscreen and the other a physical sunscreen. Both block UV A and UV B Rays in different ways. How to tell the difference between the two? When you look at the back of the bottle of the sunscreen if there is a long list of ingredients on the back, that is your chemical sunscreen. Physical sunscreen only has two or three ingredients and zinc and titanium dioxide are the main ones. The zinc is quite a pasty white so many physical sunscreens are tinted so they blend into the facial skin better. Many people prefer a physical sunscreen for their face as it is has less ingredients and so is less irritating.
It is important for all ethnicities to wear sunscreen every day. The sun in 2020 is stronger than ever and we all need protection, even on cloudy days. Adding a vitamin C serum before the sunscreen will help boost the sunscreen and help fight against free radicals and sun damage.
Sunscreen should be applied after day cream and before makeup is applied.