Articles

Sunscreen - Your Skin's Ultimate Best Friend

November 15, 2011 By Troya Case

You have probably heard it a thousand times over – the sun can damage your skin and hence the sunscreen best suited for your skin is necessary for your daily skin care regimen. Sunscreen will not only protect your skin from sunburn, but it will also help maintain the healthy glow and radiance to your skin. Among the various skin care products in the market today, sunscreen is one of the few products that have actually been proven to fight the signs of aging. Aside from its anti-aging effect, it can also eliminate the possibility of other sun exposure problems such as skin pigmentations, premature aging-wrinkles and even skin cancer. With sunscreen protection, you will never have to worry about going outdoors or taking a cover for every time you are outside. You can basically enjoy outdoor activities such as jogging or gardening without the fear of damaging your skin.

Sunscreens are usually characterized by their SPF contents to shield your skin from the harmful radiations of the sun. The sun basically emits three types of ultraviolet rays – the UVA, UVB and UVC. The UVC is the most lethal of all but they are normally filtered by the atmosphere and do not get near on the earth’s surface. The UVB rays on the other hand are the one responsible for sun burns caused by exposure to the sun. The VCA rays, also called as the ‘aging rays’, are responsible for the premature aging of the skin as well as skin cancer. You will notice that most sunscreens only promote protection from UVB rays and not against the UVA rays. Without protection from UVA rays, it will most likely penetrate your skin surface and might damage your skin cells in the long run. This is why using the best sunscreen can ensure that it would cover a broad spectrum protection from both UVB and UVA. Some of the main ingredients that you should look for are avobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and oxybenzone.

Sunscreen should always be applied to exposed skin every day. Even if you are not directly under the sun, UVA rays can penetrate the glass windows and still damage your skin. Whether you are outdoor or indoor, sunscreen is recommended for application on the exposed skin to ensure that you are always protected. Sunscreen can also be applied under make up. There are also several cosmetic products that provide sun screen protection. Women can take advantage of these additional benefits to prevent skin problems and premature aging. Research also shows that even on cloudy days, up to 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can go through the clouds. For best protection against the harmful damage from the sun, most dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater for all skin types. If your skin is sensitive and prone to sunburn, you can use a higher SPF for an added protection. Hence, it is best to always wear sunscreen everyday and make it your essential ingredient to your skin care regimen. Make sure you find the sunscreen best able to ensure that you have all the protection you need to have a healthy skin and let you face and enjoy the sun in confidence.