Sunscreen: The Perfect Skin Saver

How to keep wrinkle-free, cancer-free skin in the years to come.

Sunscreen: The Perfect Skin Saver

Finally! Weather is getting warmer, the sun is rising higher each day, but did you remember to apply sunscreen this morning? Studies show people who take five seconds each morning to apply sunscreen have a much higher chance of looking younger in 20 years than those who do not. They also have a lower chance of developing skin cancer.

A lot of middle aged people want to look young throughout their life. But do most of them actually make an effort to preserve their youthful skin? There are many skin products and miracle creams out on the market, claiming to get rid of imperfections such as lines and crow’s feet. Although most of them are expensive brands, their effectiveness is questionable.

The real deal is, wear sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen has long term benefits, proven by scientists. Sun damage is one of the largest contributors to aging skin. 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by sun exposure, but it takes 15-30 years until the damage is visible. Sun damage can also lead to skin cancer.

“Skin surface patterns reflect the severity of the sun’s damage to the deeper skin, especially to the elastic fibers and collagen,” says Dr. Adele Green, the study’s lead author. And collagen is what makes your skin look plump and young!

Sunscreen helps protect against the harmful radiations from the sun. UVA and UVB are two different types of rays. Both of these rays damage the skin, causing a higher risk of skin cancer and premature aging.

Don’t we need vitamin D from the sun? People can receive the daily amount of vitamin D from just regular outdoor activities, and the food you eat like dairy and fish contains vitamin D as well.

Although sunscreen can be highly beneficial, some forms are known to contain chemicals harmful to the skin. This problem can be resolved by using a natural sunscreen rather than make up to protect one’s skin.

Won’t everyone want to be asked 20 years from now, “What products do you use? Your skin looks great!”