As we know it is important to wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Every where you look there is talk about protecting your skin from the ultraviolet rays that come from the sun. The main question can be why is it important to wear sunscreen to protect your skin? Do we really, really need it? Dermatologists strongly say yes. If you are going to be out in the sun for any length of time, even if you’re going to be just driving in your car the sun rays can go through glass. This is why often so many skin cancer cases are on either the neck, face, and arms for many people think they are in their car, and are protected.
Okay so you now know that you do need to wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Another question could be what kind of sunscreen should you use? First off there are two types sunscreen and sun block. Are they both the same? The answer is no they are not, but no matter what type of sun protection you use dermatologist advise that you make sure it will protect you from both types of sun rays UVA and UVB. It must also have an SPF of at least 30 or higher not any lower. UVA rays are the skin cancer causing rays for they penetrate deeper into our skin layer. They can also penetrate through a cloudy day so just because it is cloudy does not mean your safe so still wear sunscreen even on an overcast day. UVA rays can also damage your skins natural skin repairing process leaving it more susceptible to skin cancer cells to develop. UVB rays are most prominent between the hours of 10am -3pm. They are the culprit behind most of your sunburns, and can help cause skin cancer too. It is also advised to make sure to reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours. If you have been playing in the water, or sweating a lot make it every hour to reapply. This even applies to waterproof sun protection. Waterproof sun protection is not completely waterproof. It just may give you a little more time before you have to reapply, and you still have to reapply. In the end wear sunscreen to protect your skin. You may think you are okay now, but the effects of the suns rays may come back to haunt you later on in life.