Is It Actually Necessary To Use Sunscreens?
In a word, Yes! And everyone should use them. People all have different skin. Sensitivity to the sun and the tendency to burn vary. Some skin rarely burns and tans very easily. Other people are highly prone to burning and will rarely or never tan. It is those folks, the ones who burn easily, who should be concerned about skin cancer and wear sunscreens. Right? Wrong! No matter what type of skin a person has, everyone is at risk of developing skin cancer, or melanoma.
Why? The sun’s rays consist of two types of hazardous ultra-violet rays, UVA and UVB. The UVB rays are the ones that cause the sunburn. Of course with each sunburn a person gets, his or her chances of skin cancer are increased. That is not the only danger. There are also the UVA rays to consider. These rays do not cause burning but they do penetrate deeper into the skin, affecting the body’s immune system and stifling how it combats cancer. Both kinds of UV rays do their part in increasing cancer risks.
Just because you aren’t actually burning, the risk is still there. Every time you are exposed to the sun, you are exposed to these ultra-violet rays. Sunscreens are made to block out the UVA and UVB rays. Applying a sun block is important no matter how much time you will be spent in the sun, not just if you plan to be outside for a long time or lying at the beach.
This includes walking to and from your car! Even spending a few minutes in the sun will contribute to the risk. While UVB rays, those that cause the skin to burn, cannot penetrate glass, UVA rays CAN. This means that even when you are sitting inside, you are still exposing your skin to harmful sun rays.
If that sounds unlikely, think about this: Have you had or has anyone you know had one of their arms tanner than the other? The tan arm is the one exposed frequently to sunlight coming in through the car window. Even extremely fair people who almost never tan will have a tan arm. And yet they never got sunburn! The arm is exposed to UVA rays everyday and the damage is being done.
So sunscreens are important to block out these rays. What about the SPF factor? SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a calculation of the time it takes the skin to burn. It compares skin with the sunblock to skin without the sunblock. For example, an SPF 10 on a person who normally burns in 10 minutes, will increase the time it takes for that person to burn to 100 minutes.
In addition to the SPF, which helps prevent burning, you will also want to look for key ingredients that block out both types of ultra-violet rays. Some of these ingredients are: Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Ecamsule, Menthyl anthranilate, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octyl salicylate, or Zinc oxide.
To help prevent skin cancer, it is important to limit sun exposure. Wear hats, keep yourself covered up, try to find a shady spot whenever you are outside and always apply sunscreens!
When you go outside into the sun for a long period of time, make sure you apply sunscreen. Sunscreens will help protect your skin. Remember to research it and find the best for the ultimate protection.
