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As the temperature rises and summer arrives in full force, everyone is scrambling to remain cool in the sweltering heat. You may like to stay home, or you may be planning a summer vacation, but one thing is a must-have, whether indoors or outdoors, sunny or gloomy, and that is sunscreen.
I wear sunscreen, and I don’t smoke. I take care of myself. And I’m very proud to say that.
Nicole Kidman
Sun exposure can be damaging to your skin, causing obvious symptoms of ageing such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. It could potentially be the cause of skin cancer. It is critical to apply sunscreen all year, not just in the summer.
Something about Sun
The Sun is a vital source of energy for our Blue Planet. Aside from keeping our planet in orbit, the sun is vital to our daily lives. The radiation of light and heat, known collectively as solar energy, allows life to exist on Earth. Plants require sunshine to create food, and most animals, including humans, require plants to survive. Without heat, the earth would freeze.
At the same time, the sun’s energy has a lot of favorable effects on human health. The benefits of coming face to face with the early morning sun rays on a regular basis, ranging from improving sleep to boosting the immune system, weight loss to stress reduction. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. However, increased exposure to sunshine is also harmful to human health. Simple sunburn to life-threatening diseases like cancer is just a few of the problems we confront as a result of excessive and unprotected exposure to sunshine. Anything exceeding the limit is bad, even the sun.
A bit about Skin
Skin is the largest organ of the human body that is highly exposed to the outer world. Also, the skin is the most sensitive organ too. The sensitivity of the skin gets affected due to internal factors like genetics, hormones or any other chronic diseases like diabetes. External factors like sunlight, temperature, or simply the environment around you, too affect the sensitivity of the skin.
The main function of the skin is to provide protection to the body from the sun and to regularize the body temperature. But it does not mean that the skin has all the power to sustain the effects of harsh sunlight. This is where the role of sunscreen is of utmost importance and selecting the right number for our hero of the day, SPF is very crucial.
The SPF
We are all aware that the Ultra Violet or UV rays found in sunlight cannot be completely blocked by the ozone layer. UVA and UVB rays are the ones that reach the earth. UVA radiation is present all year and penetrates deeper into the skin. UVA and UVB rays have an impact on our health. Sunburn, blinding eye diseases, and serious health issues such as cancer are all risks associated with direct sunlight exposure. As a result, SPF sunscreen comes to the rescue. Everyone, regardless of age, genetic history, or other health concerns, must use sunscreen. The sunscreen that has at least 15 as a minimum value of SPF is recommended by the most of the research & developmental case Studies.
The SPF on sunscreen stands for sun protection factor, which is a relative measure of how long the sunscreen will protect you from UV rays. The higher the number of SPF, the greater the protection against UV rays. SPF comes in two varieties: physical and chemical. Both provide excellent UV ray protection if the appropriate SPF is used for the skin type. Chemical SPF is recommended for oily skin, while physical SPF is recommended for normal skin. Both of these SPFs prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin by deflecting or absorbing them.
Let’s say your skin burns in 5 minutes. If you apply SPF 30, then it can protect your skin from UVB rays for the next 150 minutes. Basically 30 times more protection. That’s why if you are wearing makeup for 4-5 hours, you should prefer higher SPF.
The SPF Numbers
- SPF 15: This is recommended for people with sensitive skin and children. It blocks 93% of UVB rays and about 74% of UVA rays.
- SPF 30: Sunscreen with SPF 30 and more is recommended if one is spending a bit longer time outdoors. SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB and 79% of UVA rays.
- SPF 50+: blocks around 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
- Broad Spectrum SPF: This is a very important ingredient in sunscreen. The screen with Broad Spectrum SPF gives protection against both UVA & UVB rays.
Because the skin connects our internal world to the outside world, it plays an important function in the general health of the human body. Sunscreen is no longer merely a cosmetic product. It is essential for skin protection. Don’t be afraid to make the best decision for your body. Good health is a right, not a choice. Just as happiness is buried in the little things we do, good health is hidden beneath a thin coating of cream.
What do you think?