Why is Sunscreen Essential for your Skin?

By Dr. Saurabh AroraApr 28, 2022

We all know that Sunlight is essential for us in many ways. However, do you have an idea that the sun rays between 11 am to 4 pm emit UVA and UVB rays, which can harm your skin in the most unexpected way? It can cause skin issues such as wrinkles and in worst cases photo damage and some skin cancers. Strikingly, not just outdoors but inside your home and offices you should apply sunscreen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Usually, people who are born near the equator have dark skin tone and those who are from tropical regions have brown skin tone and temperate regions have lighter skin tone. But the good thing is that you can always protect your skin from tanning, burning, aging and other harmful effects easily.

What is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. A sunscreen between 30 to 50 SPF provides good sun protection.

Benefits of Sunscreen

Ideally sunscreen for Indian skin tone should be of 20 to 40 SPF. The SPF goes off within two hours of application. Sunscreen is an active product. This is why, it is important that the application should be repeated every two hours during the day.
The purpose of sunscreen is to shield the body from the sun’s ultraviolet rays which leaves several harmful effects such as sunburn, aging, pigmentation and skin cancer promotion. The sun rays are separated by their different wavelength into types such as UVA and UVB which exert a variety of effects in the skin due to the absorption patterns of chromophores.
The primary two chromophores are hemoglobin found in our red blood cells and melanin which gives our skin its pigment.
There are two basic types of sunscreen: physical and chemical blockers. Physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide reflect the sun’s rays by acting as a physical barrier.
Chemical blockers absorb the sun rays and they deteriorate more quickly than physical sunscreens because their ability to absorb the sun diminishes.
Wearing sunscreen helps to protect against the development of all three types of skin cancer, cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
On a daily basis the DNA in your cells is developing mutations and errors that are handled by mechanics within your cells. Ultraviolet rays from sun leads to mutations that lead to uncontrolled growth.
Sun damage along with smoking leads to premature aging, Photo aging from chronic sun exposure leads to loss of elasticity in the skin while making it look saggy.

How to protect from the Sun?

You can apply a good amount of sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before stepping out in the sun. Whether you are at the beach, snow or terrain, sunscreen is important. Apply every two hours especially when you are sweating.

What is the best kind of sunscreen?

Your sunscreen should have a SPF of at least 30. It should be water resistant.
Your sunscreen should be broad spectrum as it will protect from both UVA and UVB rays.
UVA rays can cause fine lines and dark spots, while UVB rays lead to skin cancers and sunburns.

Sunscreen for all Skin Types

Acne-Prone Skin

Your sunscreen should protect your skin from sun and also protects from inflammation and acne while controlling the oil balance.

Apt for Sensitive Skin

Sunscreen should work well on sensitive skin so that it doesn’t cause irritation.

How Is Sunscreen Beneficial ?

Ward off inflammation, redness and Sunburn
Prevents Wrinkles and Fine lines and premature aging of skin.
Stave off hyperpigmentation, dark spots and uneven skin tone.
Prevent DNA damage which might lead to carcinogenesis and photoaging.

When should you wear sunscreen?

Indoors

UVA rays can enter your room through your window glass.

High Altitudes

You must apply sunscreen when you are on holiday on the slopes as snow reflects 80 percent of the sun's damaging rays.

Winter Season

The ozone layer is the part of the atmosphere that absorbs the radiation from the sun. During the winter months, the ozone layer thins out, so you have less defense against the sun’s rays.

Cloudy Days

Several studies reflect that 80 per cent of the sun’s UV radiation reaches Earth on cloudy days.

Light Clothes

Lightweight fabrics like silk, crepe or cotton tend to allow light through. Also, the lighter the color of the garment, the more likely sunlight will hit the skin.