In a word, Yes! And everyone should use them. People all have different skin. Sensitivity to the sun and the tendency to burn vary. Some skin rarely burns and tans very easily. Other people are highly prone to burning and will rarely or never tan. It is those folks, the ones who burn easily, who should be concerned about skin cancer and wear sunscreens. Right? Wrong! No matter what type of skin a person has, everyone is at risk of developing skin cancer, or melanoma.
Why? The sun's rays consist of two types of hazardous ultra-violet rays, UVA and UVB. The UVB rays are the ones that cause the sunburn. Of course with each sunburn a person gets, his or her chances of skin cancer are increased. That is not the only danger. There are also the UVA rays to consider. These rays do not cause burning but they do penetrate deeper into the skin, affecting the body's immune system and stifling how it combats cancer. Both kinds of UV rays do their part in increasing cancer risks.
Even people who do not getting frequent sunburns, should still be concerned about exposure to both types of UV rays. Sunscreens block out these rays. It is very important to wear sunblock whenever you will be outside in the sun for a long time, like a day at the beach. That stands to reason. But sunscreens are also important for even minimal time in the sun.
Simple trips to and from your car will also leave you exposed! Even when you are indoors, you are still exposed to the sun's rays. Though you will not get a sunburn while inside, you are still open to UV rays. You may say "Nobody ever got a sunburn from sitting inside the house. So, how can that be true?" It's because the UVA rays can get through glass. UVB rays can't and that's why there is no sunburn. But UVA rays can and they are causing damage everywhere.
Have you ever seen someone who has one arm tan and the other isn't? Even people whose sunburns don't turn to tan will experience this. They may laugh and call it "driver's arm." That is because through the car window, they will not get burned by the UVB rays, but they will be exposed to the harmful UVA rays.
Sunscreens are given an 'SPF' rating. What is SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This number compares the amount of time a person will burn with the sunscreen as opposed to without it. It only refers to the amount of time it will take to burn. For example, let's look at SPF 10. This means that a person who would normally burn in 10 minutes, will burn in 10x that time, or 100 minutes (a little over an hour and a half.)
So how do you select a sunscreen? Look for products that provide protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Key ingredients you will want in your sunscreen are: Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Ecamsule, Menthyl anthranilate, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octyl salicylate, Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, or Zinc oxide.
To help prevent skin cancer, it is important to limit sun exposure. Wear hats, keep yourself covered up, try to find a shady spot whenever you are outside and always apply sunscreens!
Why? The sun's rays consist of two types of hazardous ultra-violet rays, UVA and UVB. The UVB rays are the ones that cause the sunburn. Of course with each sunburn a person gets, his or her chances of skin cancer are increased. That is not the only danger. There are also the UVA rays to consider. These rays do not cause burning but they do penetrate deeper into the skin, affecting the body's immune system and stifling how it combats cancer. Both kinds of UV rays do their part in increasing cancer risks.
Even people who do not getting frequent sunburns, should still be concerned about exposure to both types of UV rays. Sunscreens block out these rays. It is very important to wear sunblock whenever you will be outside in the sun for a long time, like a day at the beach. That stands to reason. But sunscreens are also important for even minimal time in the sun.
Simple trips to and from your car will also leave you exposed! Even when you are indoors, you are still exposed to the sun's rays. Though you will not get a sunburn while inside, you are still open to UV rays. You may say "Nobody ever got a sunburn from sitting inside the house. So, how can that be true?" It's because the UVA rays can get through glass. UVB rays can't and that's why there is no sunburn. But UVA rays can and they are causing damage everywhere.
Have you ever seen someone who has one arm tan and the other isn't? Even people whose sunburns don't turn to tan will experience this. They may laugh and call it "driver's arm." That is because through the car window, they will not get burned by the UVB rays, but they will be exposed to the harmful UVA rays.
Sunscreens are given an 'SPF' rating. What is SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This number compares the amount of time a person will burn with the sunscreen as opposed to without it. It only refers to the amount of time it will take to burn. For example, let's look at SPF 10. This means that a person who would normally burn in 10 minutes, will burn in 10x that time, or 100 minutes (a little over an hour and a half.)
So how do you select a sunscreen? Look for products that provide protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Key ingredients you will want in your sunscreen are: Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Ecamsule, Menthyl anthranilate, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octyl salicylate, Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, or Zinc oxide.
To help prevent skin cancer, it is important to limit sun exposure. Wear hats, keep yourself covered up, try to find a shady spot whenever you are outside and always apply sunscreens!
About the Author:
When you go out into the sun for a long length of time, make sure you apply sunscreen. Sunscreens will help protect the skin. Remember to research it and find the best for the ultimate protection from the sun.
