Wearing sunscreen should be an essential element of skin care, especially during summer. Similar to exercising and brushing your teeth, this preventative measure can spare you from severe illness down the line, or painful sunburns. Below are a few reasons why you should use sunscreen to protect your skin.

Why Sunscreen Is Crucial

1. Lowers Cancer Risk

About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer and 65% of melanomas are associated with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB rays, which penetrate the skin and affect the DNA of cells. If your skin isn’t protected, those rays can morph its genetic material, and lead to cancer.

2. Prevents Premature Aging

Tanning is a significant beauty mistake because it increases the risk of visible wrinkles and damage to the skin. Exposure to UV rays contributes to the loss and breakdown of collagen, which is the chemical in your skin that repairs damaged cells. The death of these cells will make it challenging to keep skin young and lubricated.

3. Protects From Sunburns

Sunburns are unpleasant and become painful once they contact fabrics from clothing and bedsheets. Sunscreen, in combination with water and minimum exposure to the sun, can help avoid health issues associated with sunburns or being too hot, like heat stroke or heat exhaustion. 

4. Evens Skin Tone

Without proper sunscreen application, your skin tone will look uneven, with certain areas looking darker than others. Uneven skin tones can also make facial brown spots—also called sunspots—appear after the sun destroys those cells. 

If you’re considering a skin care routine that can help control wrinkles and lessen the appearance of aging, turn to Valley Skin & Medspa in Apple Valley, MN. This full-service medical spa helps its customers with a broad range of treatments, including microneedling, Botox®, and laser hair removal. For over 20 years, these board-certified nurse practitioners have helped men and women gain confidence in their skin. Call (612) 419-8338 to schedule an appointment. View more information about their services online.