The Importance of Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the most important steps of a skincare routine. This is because it is not only applied for cosmetic purposes, but for health purposes as well. The sun has harmful UV rays which can cause damage to the skin when its unprotected. UV rays penetrate the skin and change skin cell structure, which can lead to skin cancer. When sunscreen is applied, the dangers of the sun will lessen.

There are three main types of UV rays; UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC rays don’t reach our skin, so they aren’t too important when considering skin. UVA rays have the longest wavelengths and penetrate the skin more deeply. They also age skin faster than usual. UVB rays have shorter wavelengths and cause sunburns. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin aging and form skin cancer. Luckily, sunscreen can help protect from these harmful rays!

Sunscreen either absorbs or reflects UV rays, depending on the type of sunscreen, either chemical or mineral. Sunscreen also has a sun protection factor, commonly known as SPF. The higher the SPF, the higher protection from sun rays the sunscreen has. It is recommended to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. As you can see, there are many different types of sunscreen. It is important to find sunscreen that fits you, so like I said above, stay tuned for another article which will help you choose the perfect sunscreen for you!