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Wellness Wednesday: Welcome to Sunscreen Season
Mayday, mayday: the heat is here! Summertime has come and that means we’re all in for a season of sweating and scorching heat. Even though it’s always a good time to put on sunscreen, summer is especially a good time to make sure you’re covered. Protecting yourself from the sun’s rays can pay off for your health in the long run.
How Does Sunscreen Work?
Sunscreen protects your body from the sun's ultraviolet rays by using either physical blockers made from zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that reflect UV rays, or chemical blockers which absorb the rays through a mixture of chemicals that include aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone. Too much exposure to ultraviolet rays can have long-term adverse effects on your body. These include:
- Premature aging of the skin
- Wrinkles
- Leathery skin
- Liver spots
- Actinic keratosis
- Solar elastosis
- Eye problems
- Increased risk of skin cancer
Why Wearing Sunscreen Is Good For You
There are several benefits to wearing sunscreen on a regular basis. The biggest benefit is that it can decrease your risk of developing cancer (including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer). Sunscreen can also help you age gracefully as the sun's rays can cause your skin to look much older than you actually are. Drinking a lot of water can also help keep your skin elastic and supple, and staying well-hydrated is a critical part of any sun safety routine.
An important thing to keep in mind is that even people with larger amounts of melanin in their skin can benefit from using sunscreen. While people with higher concentrations of melanin are more resistant to the damaging effects of the sun’s rays, they can still be vulnerable to the premature aging that UV can inflict on the human body.
How To Use Sunscreen
A good rule of thumb is to use an ounce to cover your entire body. Apply the sunscreen to all parts of your skin that are exposed to the sun (don’t forget your ears!). Make sure you get the skin around your eyes, too, but be careful when applying it there–sunscreen in your eyes can cause a very unpleasant stinging sensation. It's best to apply the sunscreen approximately 30 minutes before being in the sun so you can give it enough time to get absorbed in your skin. Giving it time to settle also makes it less likely you'll sweat it off when you perspire.
In terms of SPF (Sun Protection Factor), most dermatologists recommend using an SPF of at least 30 or higher. If you’re worried about layering sunscreen with makeup, the good news is that you should be okay applying sunscreen with makeup so long as you use a sunscreen that’s at least SPF30, water-resistant, and broad-spectrum.
It’s recommended that you reapply sunscreen throughout the day after you sweat and especially after swimming or bathing. If you spend most of the day indoors then you may not need to apply more than an ounce a day.
What About Vitamin D?
One side-effect of sunscreen to be mindful of is that the physical or chemical blockers sunscreen uses can have an impact on your vitamin D consumption. The ultraviolet B rays generate vitamin D in the skin; large amounts of sunscreen can impact that. An easy fix for this issue is to either take vitamin D3 supplements or to spend 10-15 minutes in the sun each day before applying sunscreen. Make sure you take that time early or later in the day when the sun isn’t at its peak and the UV rays are weaker.
Supplement Your Sunscreen
Sunscreen can be a very effective tool to keep you safe from the sun’s UV rays but there are other things you can do to protect yourself and increase the efficacy of your sunscreen. A wide-brimmed hat can keep you cool and shade your eyes. Combine that hat with sunglasses and you’ve got a very effective combination that’ll both help regulate your body temperature and keep the sun’s rays away from the skin around your eyes. And of course, there’s always shade. Whenever possible stick to shady areas to keep cool and minimize your exposure to direct sunlight.
Article by Austin Brietta