Sunscreen is one of the most underrated products used in skincare. And yet, it continues to be one of the most crucial skincare products ever. Lately, sunscreens have been getting some much-deserved attention. Earlier, it was only dermatologists and a few skincare enthusiasts talking about the importance of sunscreen. Now, everyone is seen raving about various sunscreens available in the market while highlighting the benefits of using them in any skincare routine.
It is essential to incorporate a good sunscreen into your daily skincare routine, regardless of your skin type or the weather outside. It is a common misconception that sunscreen is only required on sunny days, but the truth is, it is equally important on cloudy or rainy days as well. In fact, it is now suggested to wear sunscreen even when you are indoors. In this blog, we'll talk about the top 5 reasons why you should always wear sunscreen.
Top 5 Important Reasons to Wear Sunscreen Daily
Sunscreens come with numerous benefits for the skin and wearing them daily is extremely important if you want to protect your skin from any sun damage. Enlisted below are the top 5 reasons why you should use sunscreen daily for healthy, glowing skin:
1. Protects Your Skin from Harmful UV Rays
The primary reason why it is so important to wear sunscreen daily is that it protects your skin from harmful UV rays emitted from the sun. These UV rays can be of three types, UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation. Out of these, the UVC radiation is generally blocked by the ozone layer in the atmosphere and so it doesn’t reach the earth's surface. Meanwhile, UVA and UVB rays penetrate through the earth’s surface and cause harm to human skin.
These UV rays cause a lot of damage to the skin including sunburns, premature ageing and even skin cancer. Sunscreen acts as a barrier between your skin and the sun, by either absorbing or reflecting the UV rays while protecting your skin. Applying sunscreen daily can effectively protect your skin from more than 97% UV rays reducing the risk of skin damage and the need for medical attention.
2. Reduces Tanning of The Skin
Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to the tanning of the skin. Tanning is nothing but the body’s natural defence mechanism against UV rays. When any part of your body is exposed to UV rays, it activates melanocytes which produce melanin. This melanin is what gives your skin a darker colour, making it look tanned.
While tanning might give you a naturally glowing or sun-kissed look, it isn’t good for your skin health. Excessive tanning can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. Daily application of sunscreen helps to reduce the tanning effect of UV rays and prevents the damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
3. Lowers The Risk of Sunburn Inflammation
Another reason why you should wear sunscreen daily is that it lowers your risk of getting sunburnt. Sunburn is a painful and uncomfortable consequence of prolonged exposure to UV rays. It can cause redness, itching, irritation and peeling of the skin. Sunscreens can help to prevent sunburn and the inflammation associated with it by blocking most of the UV rays. Sunburn can also cause dehydration and fatigue in a lot of people. Wearing sunscreen regularly can help to prevent all these symptoms.
4. Prevents The Signs of Premature Ageing
Wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots are all early signs of premature ageing. The one big factor that speeds up your skin’s natural ageing process is the amount of sun exposure it gets. The sun's UV rays can cause a lot of damage to your skin's collagen, elastin, and other essential proteins which help to maintain a plump youthful glow. This leads to premature ageing.
Daily use of sunscreen also helps to protect your skin's collagen and elastin by preventing UV rays from penetrating into the skin and damaging important elements of the skin. This, in turn, helps to prevent the visible signs of premature ageing from appearing on your skin. Using sunscreens like the POND'S Serum Boost Sunscreen with Niacinamide-C also helps to fade dark spots while keeping your skin looking young, healthy, and glowing.
5. Reduces The Risk of Skin Cancer
One of the most severe and extreme consequences of exposure to UV rays without sun protection is skin cancer. Skin cancer can be fatal if not detected and treated early. And one of the easiest ways to reduce the risk of skin cancer caused by UV exposure is by applying sunscreen. While UVA rays cause premature ageing, UVB rays can damage the DNA in skin cells directly, causing skin cancer. The easiest way to reduce the risk of any harm caused by UVB rays is by applying a high-SPF sunscreen and reapplying it at regular intervals.
To conclude, sunscreen is an extremely vital product for skincare that should be incorporated into your daily morning skincare routine. It not only protects your skin from harmful UV rays, but also reduces tanning, prevents sunburns and inflammation, delays premature ageing, and reduces the risk of skin cancer.
However, when choosing a sunscreen, it is essential to consider your skin type, the level of protection required, the ingredients used in the product, and the formulation that suits you and your lifestyle the best. A good sunscreen should have a high SPF, broad-spectrum protection, and should be lightweight and non-greasy. So, the next time you step out into the sun, make sure to wear sunscreen and protect your skin from any damage.