A Little Sunblock Never Hurt Anyone

A little sunblock never hurt anyone. In fact, the exact opposite is true.
It's officially summer! And with summer comes the propensity to tan and participate in more outdoor activities, and thus, increased exposure to the sun.

I am one who loves a good tan, but I am also very aware of the harmful effects sun exposure can have on your skin...not just during summer months, but year-round. So, i decided to share with you the top 5 things I think you should know about the affects of the sun on the skin and how you can protect yourself.

#1 You can use a daily sunscreen, in moisturizer form to limit sun exposure that can lead to burning, skin cancer, premature aging and wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, etc. Moisturizers containing sunblock come in various formulas from oil-free to light-weight lotions depending on your skin type. Many foundations, lipsticks, hand lotions and powders contain SPF as well.

#2 SPF refers to the Sun Protection Factor in sunscreens. A higher SPF indicates greater protection from the harmful rays of the sun. If you use a sunscreen with an SPF 15, you can be in the sun 15 times longer that you can without sunscreen before burning. The SPF number is also an indicator of how often you should reapply. For example, an SPF of 30 should be reapplied every 30 minutes.

#3 Contrary to popular belief brown girls/guys need sunblock too. As mentioned in a previous post, darker skin contains more melanin, a natural SPF making the chances of burning are less likely, but still possible. It also means that the signs of skin cancer are harder to detect (irregularities in moles, abnormal growths on skin, etc.).

#4 There is a difference between sunblock and sunscreen. Sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb UV rays before they damage the skin. Sunblock contains particles that act as a physical wall against UV rays. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and sunblock begins working immediately. Experiment and see what works best for your skin.

#5 Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases in two million people are diagnosed annually. Melanoma is now the most common cancer in women age 25 to 29. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.
For more facts on skin cancer visit The Skin Cancer Foundation