How Does Sunscreen Work To Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is caused by being over exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. If a person is more genetically predisposed to be more sensitive to UV rays then there is more chance that skin cancer will develop. Typical signs that a person is predisposed to skin cancer is a family history of the disease or a pale complexion that burns easily in the sun. As sunlight is the number one way in which people get exposed to UV rays, much advice is given about how to take precautions so that sunlight does not lead to skin cancer. This article will discuss some of these ideas. In particular it will focus on how sunscreen can help protect your skin and minimize the chances of developing skin cancer.
Before covering how sunscreen works, it should be reiterated that sunscreen is not the only way to protect your skin from the sun. It should be used in conjunction with some of the ideas covered below.
Avoiding over exposure to UV rays is done by avoiding exposure to the Sun. The worst time to be in the sun is around midday when it is high in the sky. A few hours either side of this time are also bad. Try to avoid being in the Sun around this time. If you are in the Sun around this time, or any time for that matter, take precautions.
Wear protective clothing. Darker colored garments are better than lighter ones. Cover your arms with a long sleeve shirt. Cover your legs with long pants or socks.
Wear a hat with a wide brim. You could also use a sun umbrella if you don’t like hats but a hat is the best method of protecting the scalp and face.
Wear a good pair of sunglasses, as skin cancer can also affect the eyes.
After taking all these precautions you should then apply sunscreen. Cover parts of your body that are not protected by clothing and come into direct contact with the sunlight.
Sunscreens come in two types. The more common type is a chemical sunscreen that absorbs UV rays. The other type is a physical sunscreen that reflects or blocks the UV rays (these are sometimes called sunblocks).
A way to determine the effectiveness of a sunscreen is to look at it’s Sun Protection Factor (SPF). The popular recommendation in this respect is to always go for an SPF of 30+. SPF pertains to the ability to protect the skin from UVB radiation that is thought to be the worst form of radiation for sun burn and skin cancer. However, it does not protect against UVA radiation, which researchers feel can be just as dangerous as UVB. Products that are known as Broad Spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVB and UVA rays.
Sunscreens that act as a sunblock are best if you have to spend plenty of time out in the Sun. No doubt you have seen people wearing such creams on the nose or lips. It is almost like a paint that they have applied to the skin. This puts many people off using such creams but they are the best way to protect your skin from the Sun.
Sunblocks normally consist of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If you don’t like the prospect of having a large white band across your nose then an alternative is to get ultramicronized titanium or zinc sunscreens. They do the same job of reflecting the sunlight but do make you look like you have warpaint on.
Regardless of the type of sunscreen you go for, remember to always reapply it every 2 hours. This may vary depending on how active you are in the Sun. Get a cream that you like in terms of texture or fragrance so that the reapplication is not such a chore.
