Things you should know about Sunscreen!

Why should you wear sunscreen?

UltraViolet rays from the sun penetrates the skin and drives inflammation in the skin,destroys the underlying collagen matrix and contributes to photo aging,discoloration,wrinkling and so.

UltraViolet(UV) radiation causes DNA damage in the skin that triggers inflammatory mediators and damages cells and leads to skin cancers.So sunscreen is very important to protect yourself against some related skin cancers.

Where exactly should you apply sunscreen?

Basically all the body parts that are directly exposed to the sun .

Your face,neck,ears,hands and legs.

Should you apply sunscreen on your eyes?

Actually yes.But make sure to choose a sunscreen that doesn't irritate your eyes.

Wrinkles and signs of aging first occurs on your under eye and neck.So you should always take care of your undereyes and neck.Always check the ingredients before you buy a product.You maybe allergic to some ingredients.

Shouldn't we get some exposure for vitamin D and isn't sun important for vitamin D?

Yes,Vitamin D is essential for our health,for our bones and for the functioning of our immune system.Sun plays a role in vitamin D synthesis in the human body.But vitamin D can also be obtained by your diet and from supplements.It is not clear that how much sun exposure you should get to obtain an adequate amount of vitamin D.So there is a chance that you might end up doing more harm than good.

Do black people or dark skinned people need to use sunscreen?

Yes,Absolutely. Skin color or texture doesn't matter.

There are mainly two wavelength of UV light.That is UVA and UVB.

UVA penetrates very deep into the skin and damages collagen and ages the skin.

UVB penetrates more to the top layers of the skin and damages the DNA of the skin and leads to skin cancers.

Types of sunscreen

There are mainly two types of sunscreen-Physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen.

Physical sunscreen /Mineral sunscreen

They are zinc or titanium dioxide exclusive sunscreen.They sit on the surface of the skin and block and scatter uv rays.It also tends to last longer because the formula is thick and takes some extra effort to rub in.This is great for sensitive skin because they are less irritating.

It has a thick consistency,so it may not suite oily acne prone skin.

    They also provide a little bit protection against visible light , that is ,the light that we can see with our naked eyes.This is important because lastest studies have proven that visible light can also contribute to persistent discoloration associated with post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma.So physical sunscreens are a great choice for daily wear.

Chemical sunscreens

They contain active sun filters that penetrates the skin and absorbs UV rays to prevent them from causing skin damage.Chemical sunscreens are able to provide highly effective protection without necessarily needing to be in high concentrations. This means they can be formulated with a lightweight, non-sticky feel that is ideal for daily wear. They spread easily on the skin and, as the chemical filters do not have a physical presence, there is no ghosting effect.

Compound formulas with multiple filters can be used to ensure the most effective broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

This is vital as, while many people understand the risk associated with UVB rays, UVA rays – which cannot be felt – represent 95% of UV rays on the earth’s surface. They penetrate more deeply into the skin and play a significant role in accelerating premature ageing. It is essential to protect against both types of ultraviolet rays, as lack of protection over time can lead to deterioration in the skin cells, irreversibly damaging the DNA, and potentially leading to the development of skin cancer.

Some chemical UV filters have been known to cause allergic reactions and irritation in sensitive skin.

If you are using a chemical sunscreen you need to wait for 20 minutes before going outdoors because that time is much needed to form a film on the surface of the skin to protect from uv lights.

Reapply sunscreen in every 2 hours for best results.

Best suited for oily acne prone skin.

Now you might be wondering if i apply makeup then how will i reapply sunscreen in every 2 hours?

well,there are spray on sunscreens available in the market,there are powders containing spf so you can use them to touchup in every 2 hours.

But using spray on sunscreen on it's own is not recommended,because it won't provide a uniform application .So you can use them as a second layer of sunscreen on top of any cream based sunscreen for better results.

SUNSCREEN RECOMMENDATIONS