Why is sunscreen important? Have you ever wondered why you should apply sunscreen? What will happen to your skin if you don’t apply it? Let’s find the answer and learn the secrets to applying sunscreen correctly.
Why is sunscreen important?
What happens if you don’t apply sunscreen?
Since Thailand is a country with intense sunshine in every season. The ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight are the cause of many skin problems. If you don’t like to apply sunscreen, be prepared that you may encounter these problems for sure.
1. Dull skin, uneven skin tone
When our skin is exposed to a lot of sunlight without any sunscreen protection. The skin will start to protect itself by producing more melanin, which causes our skin color to darken, dark spots to be more visible, and what follows is uneven skin tone. Those who are not afraid of getting dark should think carefully because their skin color may be divided into a latte instead.
2. Sunburn because skin cells are damaged.
The intensity of UVA rays already makes the skin dark. Its partner, UVB, is just as bad because it causes the skin to feel hot, swollen, and red. In the worst case, it can cause the ยูฟ่าเบท skin to burn and peel. Applying sunscreen is like creating a protective shield because once skin cells are damaged, let me tell you that if you want them to return to their original state, it will take quite a while.
3. Increased wrinkles, older looking face
It’s not just time that steals our youth, but UV rays are also one of the factors that make our faces look older and wrinkled. For example, a famous photo of a 69-year-old man who has been a truck driver for 28 years has the left side of his face constantly exposed to sunlight penetrating through the glass and damaging his skin. When compared to the right side of his face, the difference is clear. Or, if you simply observe, the skin on the back of our hands is rougher and wrinkled more easily than the skin under the clothes. This is because UV rays destroy collagen and elastin, which help to tighten the skin. Therefore, if we are exposed to a lot of sunlight and do not apply sunscreen, our skin will sag, have wrinkles, and age prematurely.
I started applying sunscreen seriously when I saw this photo in NEJM. The man in the photo is 69 years old and has been a truck driver for 28 years. The left side of his face has been exposed to UVA rays penetrating through the windshield of his truck. Compared to the right side of his face that is not exposed to the sun, the left side of his face looks significantly older than the right side.
4. Freckles and blemishes are coming.
Sunlight stimulates the cells under our skin to produce more pigment. In addition to making the skin darker, it also causes freckles, melasma, and dark spots to appear, especially in areas that are frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the forehead, mustache, and cheekbones. Plus, as we age, both melasma and freckles become darker. What’s even scarier is that light bulbs and blue light from computers and smartphones can also cause melasma. Now do you know why we need to apply sunscreen from a young age? Even if you work indoors, you can’t ignore it.
5. Risk of skin cancer
Long-term exposure to the sun without protection can be a factor that stimulates skin cells to develop into skin cancer. Therefore, applying sunscreen is an important thing that can greatly reduce the risk of skin cancer.
How to choose sunscreen
Now you can see why sunscreen is an essential item for skin care. For those who don’t like to apply sunscreen because it makes the skin oily, causes acne, or is allergic to sunscreen, we have some tips for choosing the right sunscreen for you.
- Choose a sunscreen that can protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Note that the sunscreen will indicate both the PA (Protection Grade of UVA) and SPF (Sun Protection Factor) values.
- Sunscreens recommended by dermatologists are SPF 15-30, PA +++ to ++++, which is sufficient for daily use. However, if you have to be out in the sun for a long time and the sun is very strong, choose to buy sunscreens with SPF 50 or higher.
- Choose a sunscreen that suits your skin type. For example, people with oily skin should choose a gel or fluid sunscreen, while people with dry skin can choose a cream because it will moisturize the skin.
- People with sensitive skin who experience irritation after applying sunscreen should look for sunscreen that is fragrance-free, paraben-free, preservative-free, or a physical sunscreen that contains reflective sunscreens such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide. The advantage is that it is absorbed into the body less, making it less likely to cause allergies. However, the disadvantage is that the cream is often thick, sticky, or makes the face float.
- If you tend to get acne after applying sunscreen. You may want to choose one that says acne-prone or non-comedogenic..
How to apply sunscreen correctly?
Now that you know how to choose a sunscreen that suits your skin type, let’s learn how to apply sunscreen for maximum effectiveness.
- Sunscreen should be applied about 20-30 minutes before leaving the house.
- Use 2 milligrams per square centimeter of normal skin. For the face and neck, use about 2 fingers of sunscreen, or the size of 2 large pearls. If using lotion, use the size of a 10-baht coin. And don’t forget to apply to your ears.
- Apply a small amount of sunscreen onto your face in 5 spots: 1 on your forehead, 2 on your cheeks, 1 on your nose, and 1 on your chin. Then, gently spread it evenly in circular motions on your face so that the cream is completely absorbed into your skin and you don’t see any white cream. Apply it to your neck and back where there is no clothing to cover it up.
- It is recommended to reapply every 2-3 hours for maximum effectiveness.
- You should also look at the expiration date of your sunscreen, which is usually around 2-3 years from the date of manufacture. You should also not store your sunscreen in a hot place.
- In addition to applying sunscreen, you must also protect yourself from the sun in other ways, such as using an umbrella, wearing a hat, wearing sunglasses, choosing to wear long-sleeved clothing or clothing with sun protection properties, such as cotton mixed with polyester, which will help block up to 80% of UV rays.