Kara Carter
Words by Kara Carter & Photos by Amiyah Golden
Ah, summer. The beach days, barbecues and soaking up the sun are all coming to an end. While we enjoy the feeling of the sun softly kissing our skin, it is important to remember to protect ourselves at the same time — with sunscreen, of course. And no, sunscreen is not just a summer essential, it is a year round necessity!
You should be wearing sunscreen even in the winter
Florida is one of the top states with the highest risk for melanoma caused by harmful UV rays, according to a 2020 study by the International Journal of Cancer. Even in the winter months, the UV rays can still be harmful to the skin when exposed for extensive periods of time. For the months of January through April of last year, the average UV index for Jacksonville was 5. The National Weather Service suggests wearing sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on days with the UV index at 1-2, which is considered low. For days where the UV index is moderate, which are levels 3-5, it is recommended to seek shade during the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest and wear SPF 30 or higher.
You want to look good, right?
Wearing sunscreen daily is hot. Protecting the skin from the sun’s UV rays can prevent wrinkles, preserve the skin’s elasticity and overall reduce the skin’s aging. In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, the use of sunscreen was found to slow the process of photoaging. This is the process in which a person may physically appear older than their biological age due to sun damage, wrinkles and lack of elasticity. The study also states “repeated exposure to UV increases the degradation of collagen and alters the synthesis of new collagen accompanied by alterations in elastin fibers. The absence of both collagen and elastin in the skin leads to loss of its flexibility and strength.” This is a lady who only applied sunscreen only to her face and not her neck. You can clearly see the sunspots, wrinkles, and lack of elasticity on the neck compared to the face.
Not all sunscreens are the same
While you want to protect your skin and youth, if you’re having a beach day, it is important to want to protect the oceanic wildlife too. Many coastal beaches have banned certain types of sunscreen due to the chemicals in it that harm the wildlife and coral causing bleaching. The chemicals that are banned are oxybenzone and octinoxate along with an entire list found on the HEL website. So, check your labels! Brands like Banana Boat, Neutragena, Sun Bum, SuperGoop and Coppertone are all banned from certain coastal beaches. Some of the safe choices are thinksport, Vacation, Blue Lizard, Badger and Raw Elements. Plus, they all retail for less than $20.
What SPF should I get?
SPF stands for the “sun protective factor.” According to the Skin Cancer Foundation “The SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen. So ideally, with SPF 30 it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.” Dermatologists recommend SPF 30 or higher for everyday use. If you know you’re going to be outside in direct sunlight for extensive periods of time, get a higher SPF, but make sure to reapply as directed.
With summer coming to a close, don’t forget to transfer the sunscreen from the beach bag to the work bag. Protecting your skin is one of the best and most affordable ways to preserve your youth and combat photoaging. Maybe that picture will pop into your head when you think whether or not you should put sunscreen on for the day.
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