The sun is a beloved feature of many people’s lives, but its warmth and light can be harsh on your skin without proper protection. The effects of the sun and its damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays on your skin can be plentiful and long-lasting unless sunscreen is regularly applied. This skincare product is one of the best means of protecting the health and appearance of your skin, and we have provided 10 reasons why you should incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine.

1. Protection Against UV Rays

Sunscreen’s main function is to act as a barrier between your delicate skin and the sun’s harsh UV rays. Without sunscreen, UV radiation can pierce your skin, causing a range of skin damages such as:

• Sunburn
• Signs of premature ageing like wrinkles and fine lines
• Sunburn
• Brown or dark spots
• Hyperpigmentation
• Increased risk of skin cancer
• Broken blood vessels
• Melasma

By applying sunscreen every day before heading outside, you can minimise the adverse effects of prolonged sun exposure.

2. Prevention of Premature Ageing

Premature ageing is a common sign that sun damage has occurred as the UV rays directly accelerate the ageing process of your skin. With sunscreen effectively blocking UVA and UVB rays, this ageing process is prevented, leaving skin more youthful and radiant. You are far less likely to develop wrinkles and age spots when the harmful rays are outright stopped from affecting your skin.

Click here to learn more about age spots and how you can get rid of them through professional means.

3. Reduction of Skin Cancer Risk

One of the greatest concerns that come with too much sun exposure is the increased risk of developing skin cancer. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation causes cells within the skin to mutate, sometimes resulting in a form of cancer such as melanoma. Sunscreen is the best means of preventing this development if you need to spend prolonged periods of time outdoors. However, full coverage of sunscreen every day ensures that even small amounts of UV radiation will not raise your risk of developing skin cancer.

4. Prevention of Sunburn

Most of us recognise that the prevention of sunburn is one of the main reasons why sunscreen is used. This painful indication of skin damage can be a precursor to many more serious skin conditions. It is also possible to obtain it even when the sun isn’t shining down; in fact, overcast days often increase the risk of sunburn and damage. That’s why sunscreen is so integral for blocking and absorbing the majority of UVB rays.

With regular application of sunscreen, you can guarantee the enjoyment of your day in the great outdoors without worrying about the pain of a sunburn. This includes even when you’re in the shade or travelling, as the sun’s rays can still affect you there.

5. Maintenance of Even Skin Tone

Although this reason is slightly more cosmetic in nature, an uneven skin tone can still be frustrating to deal with. Exposure to the sun can cause patches of greater discolouration, such as redness, dark spots, or hyperpigmentation from UV damage. With consistent usage of sunscreen, you can enjoy a more uniform complexion.

6. Protection Against Photodamage

Photodamage refers to the overall harm to the skin caused by exposure to sunlight. Namely, harm in the form of lost elasticity, the formation of visible blood vessels, and unwanted changes to skin texture. Sunscreen is one of the few means of preventing photodamage, maintaining your skin’s health and integrity by diverting the harmful aspects of sunlight.

7. Prevention of Sun-Induced Allergies

Some unlucky individuals are prone to experiencing allergic reactions when exposed to direct sunlight. This includes developing conditions such as polymorphous light eruption (PLE), which can be both painful and annoying to deal with. Especially with long term exposure to the sun without sufficient protection as the rash persists for more days. 

That’s why sunscreen should be used everyday, particularly for those who know that they have sun-induced allergies. Regular application can both prevent and alleviate these conditions, allowing plenty of people the chance to head outdoors and enjoy the day that they might have not gotten otherwise.

8. Enhancement of Skincare Routine

The foundation of your skincare routine can be significantly improved through the inclusion of sunscreen. The product complements others in your routine since it provides an additional layer of defence against environmental aggressors; something that many skincare products are concerned about. 

Every time you apply sunscreen, you are protecting both your skin’s health and its beauty! So, be sure to look for what products and practices are best to keep your skin healthy and happy!

9. Support for Healing and Recovery

After a skin treatment you may notice your skin is more delicate and sensitive to environmental factors. This includes the sun, which can negatively affect your healing and recovery process for most skincare treatments. Sunscreen, however, will shield your skin from such irritants and maintain the optimal results of dermatological procedures.

10. Year-Round Necessity

Many contextualise sunscreen with summertime, believing that they only require the protective product during the brightest and hottest days of the year. This is not true, however, as UV rays can penetrate even heavy clouds. This means overcast or cold days threaten the potential of sun damage on your skin.

Knowing this, it becomes obvious that sunscreen should be applied everyday for maximum skin protection. No matter where you are in the world, or the weather at the time, it’s best to always apply some sunscreen before leaving the house.

Conclusion

The simplicity of incorporating sunscreen into your regular skincare routine hides how powerful this change is. With regular application of sunscreen, you can enjoy healthier, more radiant skin, as well as a lower risk of developing concerning skin conditions. By making sunscreen a non-negotiable part of your daily regimen, you are investing in the well-being of your skin and ensuring its resilience against the damaging effects of the sun. So, the next time you step outside, remember to reach for that sunscreen – your skin will thank you for it!