Wearing sunscreen daily is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent skin cancer. It also helps keep your skin's appearance young and healthy, and protects the investment of your skincare routine and high-end skincare treatments. In addition, when started early, it can prevent your need for additional treatments to retain your youth as you age. Coupled with preventative Botox and reparative lasers, adding sunscreen to your routine makes it possible to age in slow motion.
Most of us know we need to wear sunscreen to the beach, but only some of us know we need to wear it every day. And even then, many people still don't wear it. Why? Because we don't fully understand the consequences. Sunscreen is a topic that is frequently stressed, and skincare newbies tend to tune it out entirely. So, we wanted to simplify the WHY behind daily use. Take a shot of green juice every time the word sunscreen is used in this editorial, and you will be glowing by the time you are done reading.
Prevents Sun Damage
Ultraviolet rays cause sun damage and skin cancer, and the clouds do not block them. The most obvious reason we urge you to wear sunscreen is to prevent sun damage. Sunscreen blocks many of these rays. It is a filter, which means it doesn't protect against the sun's harmful rays, but it certainly helps. The best plan is to wear protective clothing and stay in the shade as much as possible, but we all know the temptation of a beautiful day at the beach and want you to stay safe from sun damage. As part of a daily skincare routine, sunscreen protects the sensitive skin on your face from unnecessary burns. Even the mildest of sunburns can trigger various illnesses or skin disorders, so it is essential to protect yourself from this sun damage.
Reduces Risk of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer, particularly melanoma, is a considerable risk for women in their 20s, but sunscreen can help prevent it. Unfortunately, by age 70, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer. You can significantly lower your risk with SPF 30+ applied daily over your body, and if going outside, be sure to reapply every two hours.
Prevents Premature Aging
Now that you have protected yourself against the biggest crisis - skin cancer - we want to address the most common concern we hear in our Med Spa. "I'm aging too quickly." Too much sun damage increases the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Avoiding burns and damage with daily sunscreen can help prevent aging. Are you getting the idea here?
Increases Skin Health
Essential skin proteins, like keratin, are protected when you wear sunscreen. These proteins are responsible for the appearance and smoothness of the skin. Therefore, sunscreen protects the overall health of your skin. If you are taking daily skincare vitamins but not using sunscreen, you are missing out on the full depth of your investment. Sunscreen can also reduce skin inflammation and irritate other skin conditions like psoriasis.
Brighten & Even Complexion
Sun damage is the primary cause of uneven skin tones. Daily skincare use, coupled with brightening treatments including lasers or microdermabrasion, can keep your skin's complexion bright, even, and free from any unwanted spots. Though we certainly are team freckles here in our Med Spa, we want to prevent any changes in coloring that are unwanted or, even worse, unhealthy, like sunspots or liver spots that occur as we age.
Protects Your Investment
Our clients invest in their skin, often with high-end facials, injections, or treatments. But what kind of treatments are they doing at home? Unfortunately, many of us continue the bad habit of leaving our makeup on while sleeping. No shame! We have all been there, but we are determined to help you protect your investment, and you can do that with sunscreen.
Protects Your Skin Indoors
While wearing sunscreen indoors in many cases isn't necessary, daily sunscreen use protects you in the moments you're not inside. Solar Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) is invisible energy produced daily by the sun. UVA and UVB rays are the only ones that reach the earth; however, UVA increases the risk of skin cancer and aging, and UVB causes both sunburns and increased development of skin cancer. Therefore, we support self-tanner and spray tans over beds; even the "safer" beds are not safe at all. UVB is normally blocked by glass, but UVA is only blocked by certain kinds. You can still be exposed to these rays as you travel throughout the day, even if you are mostly indoors. Also, anyone with a busy schedule knows how frequently the day can take a different turn of events, so morning sunscreen application, with reapplication throughout the day, can prepare you for an afternoon grocery trip or a last-minute lunch meeting.
How to choose a product? Where to apply?
We encourage the use of broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+. These protect you from both kinds of rays and are plenty sufficient for the average time most people spend outdoors. Apply it all over your body, especially when skin is exposed, but focusing on the face and chest will prevent the first signs of aging. Sunscreen has evolved, and now many are designed to feel like moisturizers or primers. At PryorHealth, we carry EltaMD, sunscreen products that are great for the skin. Our TransformRX line also has SPF products designed by Dr. Landon Pryor and his team. You can get all the SPF skincare at our Rockford location or browse online at transformrxshop.com. In some cases, you may not be aware of the sun damage on your skin. Our VISIA Skin Analysis can locate damage and recommend products and treatments. Please schedule a consultation with our medspa for a free VISIA and see how our products and treatments can help heal and protect your skin from sun damage!
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