5 Reasons To Use Sunscreen Every Day

The Benefits of Sunscreen

Your skin is your largest organ and has essential functions such as guarding your body against germs as well as helping to regulate your body’s temperature. While your skin also offers your body protection from the sun’s rays, that doesn’t mean you should go out without giving your skin proper protection in return. Without sunscreen, your skin is vulnerable to a host of problems. Here are five reasons why you should use sunscreen daily.

1. Reduce the Signs of Aging

If you want to reduce the signs of aging, then make sunscreen your friend. Going out in the sun without protection can damage the collagen and connective tissues of your skin — and that means you can lose elasticity and gain wrinkles.

2. Limit the Appearance of Sunspots

Being exposed to the sun’s UV rays can also cause sunspots (also known as “age spots” or “liver spots”), which is a culprit in increasing the look of aging. Sunspots are caused by hyperpigmentation of the skin and are typically flat areas of discolored skin that can be different shades of brown. Sunspots can appear in the following areas of the body:

• Face
• Shoulders
• Arms
• Back
• Back of the hands

3. Protect the Skin from Sunburn

Too much sun exposure or exposure to UV light (such as tanning beds), without protection, could result in a painful burn. With repeated sun exposure and no protection, you could see increased sunspots and skin damage. Sunburn can also increase the risk of developing skin cancer. A sunburn typically takes a few days or longer to heal, so it’s critical to always wear sunscreen, even on cooler, cloudy days.

4. Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of skin cancer is to wear sunscreen. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15, but the higher the number, the better the UV protection.

For all-day protection, it’s also necessary to reapply sunscreen:

• When you are out in the sun for more than 2 hours
• After swimming or sweating
• After toweling off

5. Avoid Broken Blood Vessels

Also known as telangiectasias, UV rays can damage the skin's blood vessel walls, thus causing them to thin. The thinning of blood vessels leaves the appearance of bruising or bleeding.

Contact Parrish Cancer Center

If you are concerned about your risk of developing skin cancer or have other skin concerns, we are here to help. To learn more about skin cancer screening, treatment, and prevention, contact The Parrish Cancer Center today at 321-529-6202. Our caring oncologists are here to guide you every step of the way.