Why Is It Important to Wear Sunscreen Every Day?

If you’re like most people, you probably view sunscreen as something that you apply to your body only when you’re going to the beach or when you plan to stay in the sun for hours at a time. However, these occasional outings only account for a fraction of your total lifetime sun exposure, which is directly responsible for most of the signs of aging and also for the development of skin cancers.  It is therefore important to start wearing sunscreen as part of your daily routine before those accumulated effects start to reveal themselves years after the original exposures. 

What Does Sunscreen Do?

Sunscreens are designed to block the ultraviolet portion of solar radiation, either by mechanical or by chemical means. UVA is responsible for aging, wrinkling, and hyperpigmentation (tanning) of the skin.  UVB is responsible for sunburning. (Think of ‘A’ for Aging and ‘B’ for Burning).  For years, UVB was thought to be the most harmful because of its links to Melanoma, but we now know that both UVA and UVB are associated with increased risks for developing skin cancers.

(Note: Tanning beds use fluorescent bulbs that emit mostly UVA.  As such, they were promoted as being “skin cancer safe”.  We now know that they are associated with a 50% increased risk of Basal Cell Carcinoma and a 100% increased risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma).

How do Sunscreens Work?

FDA-approved sunscreen comes in two types: physical blockers and chemical blockers. Physical blocker sunscreens contain mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These minerals stay on the surface of your skin and mechanically block the sun’s UV radiation (much like millions of micro umbrellas). 

Chemical blockers, on the other hand, have historically contained ingredients such as PABA (aminobenzoic acid), oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate that absorb the energy in the photons that make up the sun’s rays.  This helps prevent that energy from being absorbed by cellular DNA, which can lead to the mutations responsible for the development of skin cancers.   

What Does Sunscreen Do for Your Face & Skin?

The benefits of wearing sunscreen on your face every day include:

1) Protection Against Sunburn

Sunburns are skin inflammations resulting from the sun’s ultraviolet burning or UVB rays damaging the outer layers of your skin. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing Melanoma later in life!

2) Reduced Risk of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in the USA. The American Academy of Dermatology or AAD states that one in five Americans develop skin cancer. You’re at a higher risk when you’re overexposed to the sun’s UVB radiation, which can also damage your skin cells’ DNA. The radiation damage can reach the point that the DNA mutates your healthy cells into cancerous ones. 

3) Avoidance of Premature Skin Aging

Prolonged exposure to UVA can also reduce your skin’s collagen content and elasticity. This leads to your skin aging prematurely and accelerating the onset of wrinkles and fine lines.  In fact, many features that people associate with aging are actually caused by sun damage, and not by the simple passage of time. 

Using sunscreen can help you prevent premature skin aging. However, if your skin is already showing early aging signs, you could also supplement your skincare routine with skin rejuvenation treatments. These treatments can stimulate skin cell and collagen production, allowing your skin to regain its elasticity and replenish the dead skin cells caused by sunburns. 

4) Maintenance of Healthy Skin Complexion

Too much exposure to the sun can also result in hyperpigmentation. This refers to irregular patches of skin that have become darker or discolored due to stimulation of excess melanin production. Some examples of hyperpigmentation include: 

• Age or liver spots

• Freckles

• Melasma 

While hyperpigmentation is relatively harmless, you might still want to avoid it if you want to keep your skin’s complexion as even as possible. With the sunscreen acting as a shield against harmful UV radiation, your skin has a lower risk of developing skin discolorations. 

In addition to uneven pigmentation, excessive sun exposure can also play a role in the texture of your skin. Some common skin conditions that may be avoided with daily sunscreen application include:

• Actinic Keratoses (rough, scaly patches)

• Seborrheic Keratoses

• Cherry Angiomas

Regular use of sunblock can help keep your skin looking healthy and vibrant.

Are Sunscreens Safe?

For many years, we took for granted that all sunscreens were safe to use on a regular basis.  We now know that this was not the case.

Of the 16 active ingredients originally approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens, only two are now officially categorized as being “safe” for regular use: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  The remaining chemical blocking agents are all classified as having insufficient data for classification as being “safe”.

(PABA was long ago abandoned as a common sunscreen agent.)  

Does this mean that chemical sunscreens are “unsafe” for use?  Not necessarily.  But it does mean that mechanical sunscreens should probably be used preferentially to chemical sunscreens, especially in children.  It also means that other methods of sun protection, such as avoiding the peak intensity hours of the day, wearing hats, and wearing UPF clothing, should be important components of guarding against too much UV exposure.

(UPF = Ultraviolet Protection Factor.  A UPF 50 fabric blocks 98% of the sun’s rays.)

What Sunscreen Should You Use? 

The AAD recommends that you use sunscreens that have a sun protection factor or SPF of at least 30. This value can block around 97% of UVB rays.  Mechanical sunscreens (Blue Lizard, Bullfrog, et al.) are broad spectrum and completely safe for regular use.  Of the chemical sunscreens, those containing avobenzone appear to have the best safety profiles as of this time.

(SPF = Sun Protection Factor.  This applies to UVB protection only.  SPF 30 means that it would take 30 times longer to produce the same burn that would be experienced without the use of a sunscreen.  300 minutes versus 10 minutes, as an example.)

As a rule of thumb, the average adult needs around one ounce—enough to cover your palm or fill a shot glass—of sunscreen to adequately protect exposed body parts. This generally pertains to your face, neck, and limbs.  Unfortunately, most people tend to use less than half this amount when applying sunscreens.

Assume that all sunscreens are only completely effective for no more than two hours after application, regardless of the SPF value. If you’re staying outdoors for a long time, make sure to reapply every two hours or according to your sunscreen product’s instructions. Shorten this frequency if you are in the water or sweating, both of which can reduce the effectiveness of the sunscreen.

(Do not use spray sunscreens, especially on children.  They provide for very uneven coverage, and their inhalation risks are not well known.)

Should You Wear Sunscreen Every Day, Even When Indoors or During Cold Weather?

Even if you’re staying inside your house or office, UV rays can still reach your skin, particularly if you’re close to a window that’s letting the light come through. It is also safer to use sunscreen if you’re fond of wearing fabrics such as cotton or silk. These materials are thin enough to let the sun’s rays penetrate through and get to the skin.  

Sunscreen can also protect your skin during winter. Cold temperatures can cause the ozone layer, which protects the earth from UV radiation, to temporarily get thinner. This exposes you to even more UV rays than usual. You’ll still need sunscreen during cloudy days as well, as UV rays can penetrate cloud cover. 

Skin Treatments with Stephen Lober Plastic Surgery

So why is it important to wear sunscreen? Without it, you are at more risk of damaging your skin or even developing life-threatening diseases due to UV exposure. Including it in your daily skincare routine can go a long way toward making your skin healthier and more radiant in the long run. 

If you have any aging or skin concerns resulting from sun exposure, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Stephen Lober Plastic Surgery. We have several skin treatments available that can help rejuvenate your skin and give you a healthy glow.