3 Ways Sunscreen Protects You from Skin Cancer
It is summer again and you will want to make the most of the great weather by either going to beaches or wearing short summer dresses. Going out in the sun also means that you will get sun burnt, be susceptible to skin cancer, prone to premature aging, wrinkled skin and get sun spots on your skin. The good news is that all this damage to your skin and the risk of getting skin cancer is preventable. You do not have to sit inside of your house! You can go out after applying a liberal dose of sunscreen on your face and the other body parts that will be exposed to the sun. It is also important to remember that applying sunscreen is not a one time thing if you are going out in the sun for a long time but something that has to be repeated periodically. Once you know how sunscreen benefits your skin, you would willingly want to apply it again and again. For that, check out some ways sunscreen protects you from skin cancer.
1. It blocks the UVA and the UVB rays of the sun
Sun’s rays have both UVA and UVB which are harmful for the skin. They both cause your skin to burn and also to wrinkle, tan and age fast. Sunscreens act as a block that prevents these rays from affecting your skin directly. It does not entirely block it like an umbrella or a shady tree does, but it minimizes the adverse effect that can be created by these harmful rays. You will have to apply sunscreen every 20 minutes when you are out in the sun for a long time. Also make sure that you slather it well all over your body and do not miss any spots.
2. It protects you even when under water
Sunscreen, especially the newer ones, are highly water resistant and can be of great help when you go out swimming. You can put on as much sunscreen as you want on your body and go out for a swim without having to worry about it getting washed away. Sunscreen also protects your skin against the chlorine in the swimming pool that makes it really dry.
3. It gives you more protection on reflective surfaces
Sun’s rays on reflective surfaces can be extremely dangerous. Sand, snow and water are all reflective surfaces and apart from blinding you when it is really hot, they can also make the chances of you getting skin cancer higher. Keep applying sunscreen as many times as you possibly can to get the most protection out of your sunscreen.
The primary job of any sunscreen is to keep the harmful UVA and UVB rays from affecting your skin and protect you from skin cancer. Choose the right sunscreen with the right SPF for your skin.
