As someone who has recently started to actually wear sunscreen, it’s very common for people to forget to buy sunscreen or feel like they just don’t need it. I was the person who just didn’t think I needed sunscreen due to me having melanated skin. Growing up I always noticed how non people of color wore sunscreen in movies and if they didn’t, they would turn red and have itchy, irritated skin. My family had sunscreen like the brand called banana boat, but we barely used it when we went out. When we went to the pool, even if it wasn’t super sunny out, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Wearing no sunscreen can result in hyperpigmentation on your face and body. That is a result of an uneven skin tone. So, wearing sunscreen is an important part of our daily lives, even if you aren’t someone who goes outside as much, whether it’s not that sunny out, or cloudy you should still put on sunscreen. People also wear sunscreen to prevent aging and wrinkles, and that can lead to invisible cellular cell damage on all types of different skin complexions. Below are more reasons why sunscreen (SPF) is important and why it should be used every day.Â
Wearing sunscreen can lower the risk of skin cancer
UV radiation can damage our skin cells which can lead to skin cancer. Most skin cancers can be caused by having a lot of exposure to the UV rays which stands for ultraviolet. 80% of UV rays can pass through the clouds and snow which makes using SPF vital to apply in our daily lives. It has been proven that if you use it on a regular daily of sunscreen (SPF) 15 that you can reduce your chance of getting squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by 40 percent. You can also lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent. Melanoma is also a serious type of skin cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes which gives our skin color. People usually apply it as a final step in their morning skin care routine. I apply it when I wash my face since I don’t wear makeup like that. I always apply a small amount. For people that wear makeup I believe they would apply their sunscreen first and let it absorb into their skin and then put on their makeup. Wearing SPF can also prevent facial blood vessels from breaking the skin barrier and causing patches or flare ups on skin.Â
SPFÂ
SPF stands for sun protection factor. This measures how much UV it takes to redden the skin when you use a particular sunscreen compared to the amount of UV radiation that reddens the skin without using sunscreen. Especially when you apply the sunscreen evenly and reapply after two hours or after sweating and swimming. To figure out what to use for SPF, like if you are inside during the day and have short intervals with the sun you would need to use an SPF of 30 or higher. If you are someone who loves the outdoors but doesn’t wear sunscreen you would need an SPF 50 or higher like a water-resistant sunscreen. The numbers like SPF 15 means it blocks about 93% of the UVB rays, for SPF 30 it blocks about 97% of UV rays which is recommended to buy, SPF 50 blocks 97% of the UVB rays. There is no such thing as 100% to block the UV rays. UV rays (ultraviolet rays) that cause aging and wrinkles and UVB rays cause sunburn, so there is a difference between those two.Â
Sunscreen for different skin typesÂ
There are also different types of sunscreens for people of color since we need something different than regular sunscreen, so it wouldn’t have a white cast on our face or body. Chemical formulas like a tinted mineral potion for dark skin can help blend seamlessly into skin. Sun exposure can worsen dark spots, uneven skin tone for pretty much anybody who has them due to acne or just not wearing sunscreen. Studies have shown that most sunscreen isn’t marketed to black people. It’s mainly focused on lighter skin which isn’t true since everybody needs to wear sunscreen to protect their skin. This would make black people not concerned about wearing sunscreen. For acne prone skin you want to look for oil free that won’t clog your pores and for dry skin you want to find a cream based, hydrating SPF.Â
So as someone who has just started back wearing sunscreen it’s important to wear it every day you intend to go outside. Even if it is not that long that you are outside you should still consider how better looking your skin would look. Sometimes not wearing sunscreen can be the key to why you have uneven skin tones or hyperpigmentation. It can take some time to clear up your skin but it’s definitely worth it especially if you find the right type of SPF that works for you. Since some can actually cause acne and burning skin, you want to make sure that you find the right sunscreen that works for your skin type and only yours.Â