If You Love the Sun then Learn to Love Sunscreen
Learn to love your sunblock
As the sun shines brightly in the sky more and more people will be outside enjoying summer activities. If you’re a sun lover then you need to make sure you’re adequately protecting yourself from the negative effects of the sun’s harmful rays.
While the sun may feel good on your skin by not thinking about sun protection you’re exposing yourself to the potential for skin cancer, wrinkles, and DNA damage. While covering up with long sleeved lightweight clothing, hats and sunglasses is beneficial when out in the sunshine, it’s not enough.
If you love the sun then learn to love sunscreen!
There has been a lot of debate in the medical community about how beneficial sunscreen really is and whether any of the ingredients can actually be harmful to the body. Research studies are ongoing but scientists do say sunscreens used today are much improved from the ones on the market 20 years ago. They also say the positives outweigh the negatives on the issue.
It has also been found not nearly enough people use it because many people don’t like having to apply it or they don’t like how it feels on their skin. As well there is still a common belief that a little color in the skin, otherwise known as a tan is actually good for the skin. Actually it’s not. A tan is the skin’s way of protecting itself from damage done by the sun (but that is a whole other issue that we are not about to tackle here).
Make Sun Protection for Your Skin a Priority:
Protecting your skin from future sun damage is crucial at any age. Consider this – it only takes one bad sunburn to increase your chances of developing skin cancer by as much as 50 percent. It’s estimated one out of every five individuals in North America will develop some form of skin cancer throughout their lifetime. Approximately 80 percent of this damage occurs before a person reaches the age of 18.
If you’re exposed on a long-term basis to the sun’s damaging effects this can result in premature aging of the skin, as well as freckles, wrinkles, age spots, dilated blood vessels and skin cancer. Your skin can end up with a leathery and dry appearance.
For all of these reasons it’s essential you always wear sunscreen when you’re outside even for a brief span of time. This is not just the case on sunny days but also on overcast days when the ultraviolet rays from the sun are still strong. Remember however the sun is not all bad. It provides us with a healthy dose of vitamin D that is a necessary element of good health.
Using common sense and being smart and safe about your time in the sun is crucial for the health of your skin.
Besides sunscreen with the appropriate sun protection factor (SPF) for you, wear a hat when you’re outside with a good brim on it to shield the sun and also wear a pair of sunglasses specifically meant to block UVA and UVB rays. It’s preferable to wear a long sleeved shirt as well as long pants or a longer dress when you are outside in the sun.
Cotton or cotton blends are the best choices for summertime wear, as they’re the most comfortable and lightweight of all fabrics. They also allow the skin to breathe. You also might want to find a shady spot if you plan to sit outside for some time enjoying a good book or enjoying the company of good friends!
By all means be a sun lover but protect yourself against it’s harmful rays.
Becca Scott
Staff Writer
Free At Last Hypnosis
Filed Under: Health
