Hi, It’s Jennifer from Platinum Skin Care and I am back to answer another one of your Questions!
Today’s question is: Do I “really” need to wear sunscreen everyday?
So, what do you think? It is “really” that important? Should you take the time to apply yet another LAYER of product? Is it really that important?
The answer is a resounding Yes!
Even if you only get a few minutes of sun exposure each day … it is absolutely enough to cause hyper-pigmentation and premature aging over time – and more importantly - even skin cancer!
It is the combined times that really build up.
Now, time to learn …
The American Academy of Dermatology states that 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime!
Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer in females ages 15-29. *They believe this is tanning beds!!!
Research found that daily sunscreen use cuts the incidence of melanoma –the deadliest form - in half.
So basically – WEAR SPF of at least 30 every day – and cut your chance of getting melanoma in HALF! Simple choice.
Now…. it seems more logical to say that if you are a construction worker, or a landscape architect or a lifeguard, well OF COURSE you need to apply SPF, but what if you work inside all day?
Here is the kicker
Even if you are Inside an office building – with NO WINDOWS - all day long… you are still at risk!
Big risk! How, you may ask?
Well, we are constantly in contact with UV radiation. The sun is not the only source. UV rays are also emitted from:
- Tanning beds – which hopefully you are not even thinking about using… especially after the facts I just gave you.
- And also from all kinds of lights such as: black lights, germicidal lamps, halogen and even fluorescent.
That means even if you are at work – all day long – you are STILL at RISK! And FYI – CFL’s or Compact Fluorescent Lights are THE WORST! Now, LED and incandescent light bulbs have no UV emissions according to the Department of Chemical and Molecular Engineering at Stony Brook, so choose those when you can.
***We have LED here at Platinum Skin Care. Of course!
UV rays have been officially categorized as a known carcinogen.
- UVB – is the ray that causes visible redness and inflammation in the skin. It also increases Free Radicals and Decreases our natural ability to fight them. This makes us more vulnerable to DNA damages and mutation in our epidermal cells. This damage is the number one cause of skin cancers.
- UVA - makes up the majority of the rays that reach the Earth’s surface. They are the rays that are the most responsible for the aging of our skin. UVA can penetrate deeper into the skin, and when they do this they breakdown our collagen and elastin.
UVA radiation can penetrate through glass and most clothing, and its strength remains constant throughout the day – even if it is raining or cloudy! Just like UVB, UVA rays also increase free radical damage and decreases the body’s natural defense mechanisms. There is also a UVC – but that doesn’t make it through the Earth’s ozone layer enough to cause troubles – yet!
So what SPF do you need?
A broad spectrum SPF of 15 will protect you from about 93 percent of UVB rays. SPF 30 protects from 97 percent of UVB rays and an SPF of 60 protects from 98 percent of UVB radiation. Platinum Skin Care carries 2 different versions of SPF 40 for various skin types. Make sure to apply them every day and REAPPLY them every 2 hours if you are out and about. Swimming, sweating, etc…
That’s it for today. Keep your skin protected! I will be back soon with some more answers and tips.
Have a great Day! Bye.
