The skin is the largest and one of the most visible organs in the human body. Our skin enables us to sense cold, heat, pain, and vibration, as well as rough or smooth surfaces.
Skin also plays an important role in the production of vitamin D, which is essential to bone formation. This production of vitamin D takes place with the help of sunlight. However, there is an increasing danger in excessive exposure of the skin to sunlight. To help protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun it is important to avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun and also wear sunscreen daily.
What is Sunscreen and how does it work?
Sunscreen also called sunblock is a topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation and thus helps protect against sunburn. It can be in the form of a lotion, spray, gel, oil or stick.
There are two different types of sunscreen, physical and chemical sunscreen:
Physical Sunscreen also called (mineral sunscreen) acts as a shield to protect the skin. Once applied the filters form a physical barrier, reflecting or scattering UV waves.
Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, absorbs UV rays and releases their energy as heat.
People with darker skin tones are less likely to suffer from sunburns because of the amount of melanin their skin produces, however, I hate to break it to you - UV rays don't discriminate!
Below are four reasons you should wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays. It blocks these rays, greatly reducing the likelihood of sunburn.
Wearing sunscreen slows down the development of wrinkles and premature ageing of the skin.
Wearing sunscreen helps lower your risk of skin cancer.
Daily use of sunscreen can also help you treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots caused by acne giving you an even skin tone.
In the end, it really doesn't matter what your skin tone, race, gender or age is. Exposing your skin to the sun without proper protection can be very damaging and as they say, prevention is better than cure so get your SPF on.
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