So, Do I Really Need to Wear Sunscreen?

Heyyyy Beauties ;) In today's message we are going to talk about sunscreen.  Yes sunscreen!  If you are like me, it never crosses your mind to use sunscreen.  We don't go around thinking how harmful our sun UV rays are and we better protect ourselves. As I am studying skin care science and learning about the importance of our skin and how to protect it, I am not taking more interest in using sunscreen.  Let me share with you what I've learned and you can make your decision from there.  Is that good? :) Okay, here are some benefits in using sunscreen.

1. It protects you from skin cancer by protecting you from our sun harmful UV rays.  Sunscreen helps block these rays from penetrating to the skin.
2. Prevents you from pre-mature aging.  Sunscreen can shield your skin from developing signs of aging, wrinkles and fine lines.  Those who start using sunscreen have a lesser chance in getting the signs of aging, wrinkles, and fine lines than those of non-sunscreen users.
3. Protects your skin from sunburn.  When outdoors for a long period of time, along with using sunscreen, make sure you are wearing a hat, long sleeve light clothing and seek shaded area.  This help you to protect yourself from sunburn.
4. Can help with blotchiness on the face.  Applying sunscreen on your face to prevent the onset of that irritating blotchiness and eruptions of red veins. This is also essential to prevent the onset of acne and other sun rays- induced damages.
5. Sunscreen can also protect your skin proteins such as collagen, keratin, and elastin. These proteins are required for keeping the skin smooth and healthy. Make sure your sun block has titanium oxide in it for endowing these benefits to the skin.

Now what kind of sunscreen should I use, you ask?  This is what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends you use:

• Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays)
• SPF 30 or higher
• Water resistance

I know we often think that we should only use sunscreen in the hot summer months when we are out on the beach.  In actuality, we need to use sunscreen any time we are outdoors for all season; summer, winter, spring, and fall.  Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin.  Snow, sand, and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays.  So we need to make sure we are covered all year round! Now, how much should we use.  Let's take a look.

• Most people only apply 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen.
• Apply enough sunscreen to cover all exposed skin. Most adults need about 1 ounce — or enough to fill a shot glass — to fully cover their body.
• Don't forget to apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears and the top of your head.
• Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors.
• Skin cancer also can form on the lips. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• When outdoors, reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.

I hope this information can help you make informed decisions on using sunscreen, what kind, and how much to use.  Sunscreen is a great health benefit for our skin and save us from experiencing health conditions that we do not want to be bothered with. Read, share, like, comment on this post and let me know your thoughts. Talk to you beauties soon! Chesha L. Hale - Owner of Healthy Living and Skincare

References to sunscreen: https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care/sunscreen-faqs
https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/sunscreen-why-use/#gref