If there is one thing skincare professionals want people to understand, it is the importance of sunblock. A person can undergo countless skincare procedures and they will do no good if they continue to damage their skin with unprotected exposure to the sun. Applying sunblock is the single most important beauty action a person can take. It will ensure your skin looks healthy and young for years longer than those who bake in the sun, or spend time outdoors unprotected.
Sunblock and sunscreen is not the same thing. Blocks often contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide with zinc. They act as a mirror for the sun’s rays, and deflect the danger away from the skin. Blocks are usually opaque in color and form a wall between sun and skin. They are better for sensitive skin than sunscreens because their protective ingredient is zinc, which is often easier for sensitive skin to deal with. If you remember the colored sun creams from the 1980s and ’90s, you have a good idea of what sunblock looks like.
Sunscreen contains materials that act as a filter and allow only certain ranges of UV light to access the skin. Sunscreens are easier to find in stores, offer better burn protection, and are less visible on the skin. They can be worn under makeup. Both sunscreen and sunblock need to be applied repeatedly while outdoors, but you will need to apply sunscreen more frequently. One benefit of sunblock is the ability to see when an application is necessary. However, since you can see sunblock on the skin, it is often not the preferred method of protection.
Sunscreen and sunblock work by absorbing or reflecting the UVA and UVB radiation of the sun. Sunblock is unable to fully protect against UVA rays. Both are offered in various SPF ratings. This indicates how long a sunscreen remains effective on the skin. Personally, you can calculate how often you should reapply sun lotion by multiplying the number of minutes your skin typically takes to burn by the SPF number. For instance, a person that typically takes 10 minutes to burn will have 300 minutes of protection from an SPF 30 product. Paula Gilmartin, regional manager and aesthetic nurse trainer at Dermalounge, advises clients to apply an antioxidant serum with their sunscreen. This not only boosts the effectiveness of sun protection by five times, it helps protect the skin from free radicals.
The best choice in sun protection varies from person to person. You should choose a product that is gentle enough for everyday use. Spray lotions and gels are not as greasy as other options, but they will need to be re-applied more frequently. Some people develop a rash from certain brands of sunscreen. It is important to not give up on using sun protection and choose a different brand. Some brands contain a substance called paba. Lotions free of paba are available in a variety of location and may remedy the problems a person has with rash.
Even those who have a difficult time finding sunscreen that works for them should make it a point to use protection. The risks of not using sunscreen far outweigh any problems users may have with various products. The immediate concern when not using sunscreen is burning the skin. A sunburn is a radiation burn to the skin. Sunburns can be serious injuries and can cause a great deal of pain. There are varying degrees of sunburns, but all cause permanent damage. Cells and blood vessels are damaged with each burn, and repeated sun damage can leave skin dry, wrinkled, leathery, and discolored. Skin that has been damaged by the sun will appear thicker than healthy skin, but it has actually been weakened by the damage and will bruise more easily than healthy skin. Worst of all, sun damage can cause skin cancer. It is often quite easy to recognize someone who spent a good deal of time in their adolescence sunbathing or tanning by their unhealthy, leathery appearance.
Treatments are available that can reverse the effects of sun damage. Photorejuvenation, Photodynamic Therapy, and chemical peels can all reduce the signs of sun damage and restore skin to a healthier condition. However, no treatments will completely undo the damage caused by the harmful rays of the sun. If you want to keep your skin as healthy as possible, for as long as possible, it is important to protect your skin every time you are outdoors.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
