You may think of sunscreen as separate from the rest of your skin care lineup. You have cleansers, toners, and serums on one hand and sunscreen on the other. After all, its only job is to keep you from getting sunburned on your next beach day, right? Time to reprogram your mindset.
The truth is sunscreen offers many skin benefits. It shields you from painful sunburns and reduces your skin cancer risk, but it also plays a direct role in keeping your skin vibrant, healthy, and youthful-looking. So, how is sunscreen good for your skin, exactly? Let's count the ways.
What Does Sunscreen Do to Your Skin?
When it comes to your skin care routine, sunscreen is your secret weapon. This powerhouse product is unlike anything else because it protects your skin in many ways.
Protects You from Skin Cancer
You already know sunscreen's most important job—protecting your skin from harmful ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB rays. Over time, these rays can wreak havoc on your skin, causing cellular damage that leads to skin cancer. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day keeps your skin healthy and cancer-free in combination with other sun-safety measures.
Turns Back the Hands of Time
Golden, sun-kissed skin may be enviable for some people, but it's actually an outward sign of premature skin aging. You may not notice changes overnight, but over the years, sun damage accumulates and causes visible signs of aging—like fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and a lackluster look. These UV-induced changes are called photoaging and account for up to 90 percent of skin aging.
The good news is photoaging isn't inevitable. Using sunscreen daily blocks UV rays and minimizes their effects on your skin.
Keeps Pimples and Other Skin Conditions at Bay
Sunscreen can also prevent and improve skin conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Unprotected UV exposure can damage the delicate skin barrier and irritate the skin, compromising it further. If you're prone to pimples or have a sensitive skin condition, look for noncomedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores), fragrance-free formulas. For added benefits, opt for a sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, which calms inflammation while blocking UV rays.
Keep in mind that many acne medications make your skin more sun-sensitive. Applying sunscreen every day helps protect this extra-sensitive skin.
Prevents and Improves Pigmentation
For many people, chronic sun exposure leads to dark patches that can be hard to treat. Use a tinted sunscreen with Iron Oxides to help prevent conditions like melasma and hyperpigmentation, which blue light exposure from smartphones, computers, and TVs worsens. Try EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, a lightweight sunscreen formulated with antioxidants Niacinamide and Vitamin E to help diminish visible signs of aging while improving skin tone and discoloration. The tinted formula, which comes in two shades, means you won't be left with an unsightly white cast.
Repairing Your Skin with Sunscreen
If you haven't committed to a daily sunscreen habit yet, it's not too late. No matter where you are in your skin care journey, practicing sun safety now can stop fine lines and wrinkles in their tracks and help prevent concerns from melanoma to melasma.
The beauty of building the habit is you have many formulas to choose from. Start with your skin type and go from there. Tinted sunscreens also shield you from blue light, and water-resistant formulas protect you while exercising or enjoying swimming or water sports. You can choose from many formula types too, including sticks and sprays.
Regular Sunscreen Use Equals Your Best Skin
How is sunscreen good for your skin? In so, so many ways. Sunscreen isn't just something you slather on your nose for your annual beach trip. It's a daily skin care staple. Sunscreen is safe to use and well tolerated by most people. It may take some trial and error, but finding the sunscreen that works for you can be fun.
If you think your skin is reacting to a sunscreen ingredient, it's time to try something new. And remember, your Dermatologist is there to help. If you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin, they can perform an in-office patch test to determine the cause of your reaction.
Ultimately, whatever sunscreen you choose, make sure it's one you love. The more you love it, the more you'll use it—and the better off your skin will be!
Author
