Most people know that wearing sunscreen every day protects you from the harmful effects of the sun. We often use sunscreen during the summer or when we are outside for extended periods of time. But what about the rest of the year? Or if you mainly stay indoors? You might wonder: Should you wear sunscreen every day?
Spending time outside is healthy and can help you get vitamin D. But too much unprotected time in the sun exposes your skin to ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light, the two main types of sunlight that harm your skin. These can lead to skin cancer and other unwanted changes, like wrinkles and dark spots. You may not realize it, but sun damage adds up over the years. Even if you’re not outside much, you’re constantly exposed to UV radiation. Using sunscreen regularly helps protect your skin from UV light and all its harmful effects. Let’s take a look at the benefits of wearing sunscreen every day. Sunscreen blocks UVB rays, which cause most sunburns. UVB intensity changes depending on the time of day and the time of year. It’s the strongest at midday and during the spring and fall, but it can burn you year-round. Another important reason to wear sun protection daily is that UVB rays can penetrate clouds, so you can still get a sunburn on an overcast day. Too much UV exposure damages the DNA inside skin cells. This can cause them to grow and replicate uncontrollably, leading to skin cancer. Sunscreen blocks this UV exposure and prevents sun damage.
UV light also damages collagen and elastin in your skin, the proteins that keep skin firm and supple. Over time, UV light damage leads to premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, sunspots, and sagging skin. UV light exposure can cause the small blood vessels in your face to become enlarged and more prominent. This leads to visible red and purple patches, and blotchy skin that don’t go away. Wearing sunscreen every day helps prevent this damage and keeps these enlarged blood vessels from forming. Chronic UV exposure can also cause dark patches on the skin, like in melasma and hyperpigmentation. Everyone –– including people with darker skin tones –– should wear sun protection daily to help prevent these spots from forming or getting worse.
