Sun exposure, once upon a time, was considered to be a healthy benefit of any outdoor activity. And sunlight does have an important role to play in the efficient functioning of skin cells and the healthy growth of our bodies. However, the ill-effects of the ultraviolet radiations of the sun outweigh the benefits of sunlight and make it necessary for us to protect our skin against sun exposure.
Sunlight consists of a broad spectrum of high frequency ultraviolet rays – UVA and UVB radiation that penetrate through the skin surface and cause intrinsic damage within the skin cells. Visible signs of sun damage include tanning, development of freckles and sunburns. Apart from this, the UV radiations also cause intrinsic damage in the long run that results in development of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and sagging skin. Although the body’s defense system is able to repair the external damage, the internal damage builds up over the years and leads to premature aging and in severe cases is also known to cause skin cancer.
Sun protection is a lifelong process that begins at infancy and should be continued throughout life. Research states that we get about 80 per cent of the total lifetime sun exposure in the first 18 years of our lives. This is why it is important to protect the skin against sun exposure right from the childhood so that there are no aftereffects later in life.
If your extend of exposure to sunlight is very limited like when you are running errands, walking to the car etc., then an SPF 15 sunscreen should be enough for you. However, if you need to spend longer amounts of time in the sunlight like when you are exercising, mowing the lawn or playing, then you would need at least an SPF 30 sunscreen. Moreover, if you have extremely fair skin then you should consider using an SPF 50 sunscreen that offers about 99 per cent sun protection. This is because fair skinned people lack melanin and are highly sensitized to the sun rays. An SPF 50 sunscreen is also recommended for people who are taking medications that increase the skin’s susceptibility to sunburns or have a medical history of skin cancer in the family.