In a shocking survey commissioned by EWG, it was found that only 17% of U.S. adults use sunscreen daily, which, in their words means, “everyone else is risking skin damage.”
To fully comprehend why sun protection is so important, it’s crucial to understand what “sun damage” is and how it impacts your overall health — because, let us tell you, it does. Let’s break it down.
Why Does Preventing Sun Damage Matter?
By definition, sun damage (also known as photoaging or photodamage) happens when unprotected skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) light, causing damage to healthy cells.
This matters because, without healthy skin cells, you put your skin and your body at risk. Over time, you may start to notice premature signs of aging — think spots, wrinkles, sagging, and so on — and, even more importantly, you increase your chances of developing skin cancer.
Though skin cancer is often treatable with early detection, it should not be taken lightly. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation reports that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 and more than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
Putting noticeable aging and skin cancer aside for a moment, your skin is also your body’s first line of defense, so it’s vital for your insides, too. It protects you from bacteria, germs, environmental aggressors, internal injuries, and more. So protecting your skin from the following damage (and more) is essential.
READ MORE: How to Protect Your Skin From Sun Damage When You Reflekt
Identifying & Treating Various Types of Sun Damage
1. Sunburn
Identify It: With 1 in 3 Americans reporting sunburn annually, it’s an especially common form of sun damage despite being highly preventable. It’s that uncomfortable burn on your skin that comes from overexposure to UV rays, causing healthy cells to die off and your body to respond to repair the damage. Your skin burns as a result, appearing red, sometimes inflamed, and becoming hot to the touch. In severe cases, it may even blister and peel.
Treat It: Drink plenty of water, avoid any further sun exposure, and apply aloe vera gel to soothe and cool it. Prevent it from happening again with proper use of sunscreen to combat the sun’s aging UVA and burning UVB rays.
2. Discoloration
Identify It: Sunspots, age spots, melasma, and the like are all different types of discoloration on the skin that appear darker than your surrounding complexion. They occur when your body responds to sun exposure, causing an accelerated production of melanin to defend it. Over time, this melanin can cluster together to produce spots or patches that can appear wherever your skin was exposed.
Treat It: Consistently exfoliating and hydrating skin will help dramatically minimize the look of discoloration for visibly healthier, more even skin tone. Our simple yet effective four-step regimen does just that by combining exfoliation and hydration in every step to eliminate dead skin cells and dullness and replenish the skin with super-charged ingredients that brighten and even texture and tone. Prevent further discoloration by using this regimen twice daily and properly protecting your skin.
3. Skin cancer
Identify It: Not all skin cancer can be seen by the naked eye, however, checking your skin monthly can help early detection in many cases. The American Cancer Society recommends using the ABCDE Method to assess Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter, and Evolution of spots on your face and body. Check out their guide here to learn more.
Treat It: Visit a dermatologist for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
