If there is one skincare product that you should never lack in your wardrobe, it is sunscreen. Why? The depletion of the ozone layer has increased our risk of sun damage from harmful UV rays. Sunscreen blocks these rays. Exposure to UV rays can cause premature ageing of the skin and signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis, and solar elastosis. UV rays can also cause eye problems.
While sunscreen can be expensive, it is definitely worth your coins. You can save up some money every month, put it together and buy some sunscreen. You will most definitely see some good results in the way your skin appears and feels.
Here are 7 myths about sunscreen that you should ignore.
1. It’s not for dark-skinned people
You have probably heard people say that sunscreen is only for lighter skin tones. The reason people say this is that people with more melanin have enough protection against harmful UV rays. This is false.
While people with darker skin are more protected from the sun, they should still use a full-spectrum sunscreen. UVA damage is not blocked by melanin in the same way and can lead to premature skin ageing and wrinkles. People with darker skin are also not protected against skin cancer. So, yes, even if you are extremely dark-skinned, do not skip out on sunscreen.
2. You only need to apply it once a day.
Many of us apply sunscreen in the morning and then go about our day as though all is well. However, this is not enough protection. You need to have sunscreen in your bag at all times. In reality, sunscreen breaks down in the light and loses its effectiveness over a short period of time. People should apply sunscreen every 2 to 4 hours, at least. If you are swimming or sweating heavily, then you will probably need to apply sunscreen more frequently.
3. It is waterproof
If you happen to be a swimmer or to expose yourself to water in any particular way, then you are going to need a lot more sunscreen. Sunscreen is not actually waterproof. Once you get out of the water, you need to apply some more.
According to Medical News Today, sunscreen labelled as water-resistant or sweat-resistant, or marketed as sunscreen for sports, may appear to be waterproof. Unfortunately, this is an overstatement of what sunscreen can do. No sunscreen product can be 100 per cent waterproof.
4. You don’t need sunscreen on a cold or cloudy day
Here’s the thing. Even when it is cold and gloomy outside, you will still need to take out your sunscreen. While we may be trying to be conservative with this expensive product, you still need to wear it on a cold day. A cool or overcast day can have similar UV levels to a warm, sunny day. If it’s windy and you get a red face, it’s likely to be sunburn. There’s no such thing as ‘windburn’. Sun damage is also possible on cloudy days, as UV radiation can penetrate some clouds, and may even be more intense due to reflection off the clouds.
5. It prevents the body from absorbing Vitamin D
Vitamin D is very important in the body. It helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus. These are critical for building bone. Laboratory studies show that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections and reduce inflammation.
There are myths that when you apply sunscreen, you prevent your body from absorbing Vitamin D. This is false. Sunlight can penetrate clothing and sunscreens lose their effectiveness over time. Many scientists and dermatologists suggest that just 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure per day can create the proper amount of vitamin D in the body.
Health: Benefits And Sources Of Vitamin D
6. You don’t need sunscreen if you wear makeup
Makeup can involve putting on layers and layers of product on your skin, and for this reason, people assume that it is protection enough from harmful UV rays. While it is true that makeup may provide a little protection from the sun, it is not much and is not a replacement for a good sunscreen. Makeup should be seen as an additional layer of protection, not the only layer of protection.
7. It causes cancer
There are so many myths surrounding the causes of cancer and it is easy to fall prey to them. People claim that wearing sunscreen causes cancer, and this is not true. There is no medical evidence that sunscreen causes cancer. There is a lot of medical evidence that UV rays from the sun and tanning beds do. So no, you will not get cancer from using sunscreen.
Skincare: The Benefits Of Sunscreen And How To Apply It Properly
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