Are We Right to Be Worried About Exposing Our Skin to the Sun?
- By:louise forrest
We hear the warnings all the time, but just how much attention should we pay to them? Is the sun really that harmful, or is it just another thing to stop us from having a good time? Unfortunately the dangers of the sun on our skin are very real, and as much as we wish we could, it is impossible to go out into direct sunlight without protection and to not suffer any damage at all!
How the Sun Damages Our Skin
The reason why many people ignore the constant warnings is the fact that plenty of people go out in the sun unprotected all the time, and they think that nothing has happened to their skin. They get a tan and they really do not see what the problem is. Skin cancer is something which they think will never happen to them; however they really could not be further from the truth!
Every time you go out into the sun unprotected, you are putting your skin at risk - fact! This is because the suns rays are really damaging to the skin, and a tan is the result of burnt skin. Nobody really looks at a tan that way, they just think that a tan looks healthier, however it really is the result of damaged skin, and as nice as it looks, our skin really is not thanking us for it!
Sunblock lotion was created for a reason, and that was to protect the skin from any unnecessary burning. All sunscreen has a protection factor, and it is recommended that we use at least factor 18 when we go out into the sun, and more if you have fair skin and freckles. A good way to tell which factor sunscreen you will need is to check the daily weather forecasts. Usually they give a UV rating and basically the higher the rating, the higher protection level you will need.
The worst damage we can do to our skin is skin cancer. Staying unprotected in the sun for even half an hour can help to cause skin cancer. It can happen to absolutely everybody, though darker skins have a less likely chance of developing it. The way to tell if you have skin cancer is to look for any unusual moles or changes in existing ones. You should also look out for sores which will not heal on the skin. Sunbeds can also cause skin cancer, though it is a lot rarer.
The final way the sun can damage the skin, is by prematurely aging it. It does this by creating free radicals within the body. The free radicals often cause wrinkles; hence skin which has been exposed to the sun will age a lot quicker than it usually would. Sun spots also often occur in exposed skin.
The sun can also cause our skin to become thicker or thinner in some circumstances, changing the texture of the skin completely. Overall, unprotected skin does not stand much of a chance against the sun, so it is always better to cover up!
How to Stay Safe
The best way to stay safe is to wear sunscreen or to simply cover up completely. However, in such warm temperatures it is often impossible to cover up completely, so sunscreen is always the best option.
Remember that you should reapply the sunscreen after swimming in the sea or pool, and it does need topping up every so often too. Always ensure that you have the right level of protection. As mentioned earlier, it is recommended that you use at least factor 18, though if you have fair skin and freckles, you should use a higher level one just to be safe!
It is still possible to get a tan with sunscreen; it simply stops you from burning that is all. However, if you are not particularly bothered about a sun tan, sun block may be your best protection. It is more protective than sunscreen, but it does not let you get a tan.
Overall, it is better to be safe than sorry so always make sure you wear either sunscreen or sun block!
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