Now that the weather has gotten warmer, the sun is out for longer periods of time. Which also increases our exposure to direct sunlight. While this maybe good because you receive vitamin D and boost serotonin. It may be harmful if you are out not wearing sunscreen protecting your skin.
As the title states, this post is about the importance of sunscreen. And as what is said in the parentheses, is also true because a lot of people are uninformed about the importance of sunscreen regardless of your skin tone. I can speak by first hand account. I did not think that I had to wear wear sunscreen because .1) I do not get sunburnt when I am in the sun for an extended period of time, I just get richer shade of brown. But after much research I can say that I was wrong and should have been wearing it.
In the following I will list 5 reasons as to why everyone should wear sunscreen now that spring and summer is coming (and year round.)
Melanin Only Protects You to an Extant.
For people who think that because you have a dark skin you don’t need to wear sunscreen, according to Consumer Reports, “even the darkest Black skin provides only about an SPF 13. If you get enough sun exposure, you’ll get skin damage, and possibly even skin cancer.” If you don’t have the darkest skin and are brown or tan you have even less SPF protection and are putting yourself at risk for skin damage.
Moreover, “photodamage in people of color leads to sagging of the skin, loss of volume in the face, and hyperpigmentation. While people with lighter skin see fine lines and wrinkles as their first signs of damage, people of colors first signs are hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.” These reasons should be the reason you start to look up sunscreens NOW (if you don’t already have a favorite one.) If you haven’t been wearing one, you should start because at least you are actively trying to prevent further damage.
Skin Cancer
I think that this might be one of the most known side effects of over exposure to the sun rays. But according to Consumer Reports, “Skin cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage in people of color than in whites. That’s partly because of a lack of awareness about the risks and because skin cancer can look much different and be found in different places on the body (such as the palms and soles of the feet). “Even doctors often don’t think about skin cancer when they’re treating people of color,” Downie says. The outcome is that skin cancer can be harder to treat and, in the case of melanoma, be more deadly in nonwhites.”
Reading this made my heart ache because sunscreen really isn’t something that’s a commodity in most people of colors homes, unless they are on the fairer side. To my people of color, we always see medical racism stories online on social media, and even in this post you have a medical professional saying that even other doctors don’t check for skin cancer on us. We need to start being more proactive and trying to staying healthy because sometimes those who are there to help don’t always help.
Ozone Layers backup
As we know we are living through global warming because of big corporations pollution and destroying our land. Something else that has been somewhat destroyed and is fighting to protect us is the ozone layer. According to Unity Point Health, “The ozone acts as a sun shield for the earth by absorbing harmful UVB rays before they reach the ground. As the ozone layer depletes, your body needs added protection from these harmful rays.” This is where sunscreen comes in, literal personal protection from the sun!
Reduced Signs of Aging
Now on a brighter note, according to Paris Health Care, “Going out in the sun without protection can damage the collagen and connective tissues of your skin — and that means you can lose elasticity and gain wrinkles.” If you want to avoid this you just wear sunscreen ! It’s never too early to start the prevention of aging. Everybody has different skin types and genes, so there never is a set time to start fighting signs of aging; it’s something that you work with and start as soon as possible for great benefits.
Prevents Skin inflammation
According to Dermstore, “UV radiation damages the DNA of immune-protecting cells, leading to inflammation and free radical damage to skin and within the body. Immune suppression decreases our body’s ability for these cells to protect us from skin cancers and other illnesses. The immune system plays a vital role in maintaining the health of all the tissues of the body, so healthy skin is vital to overall health.” I think people forget that your skin is the biggest organ on your body and it’s on the outside of us, we really should be protecting it more than we are.
Types of Sunscreens
There is various types of sunscreen from the concentration of the SPF to application type it really is up to your personal preference. SPF 15 is the recommended use if you are not going to be in the sun for an extended period of time. However, it is different if you are going to be out longer depending on your skin tone. Below I added a chart with SPF recommendations according to skin tone and sun exposure. (Chart made from Banana Boat [a sunscreen company.])
Hopefully this post was helpful to some and makes everyone realize that sunscreen is a necessity and adds it to their daily routine. Are you a current sunscreen user ? If so, what is your favorite sunscreen ? I’m in the market for a new one at the moment.
J’s Journal 