5 Reasons Why SPF is Essential

Posted on August 25, 2021

While we all love a dose of sunshine, our skin begs to differ when it comes to prolonged exposure. Protecting our skin from sun rays is especially important for many reasons. Using SPF can be a great line of defense to shield against harmful UV rays.

But what’s the importance of SPF? Here are 5 reasons why SPF is essential.

What is SPF?

First and foremost, what is SPF? It stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF products are formulated with different strengths and protect against different UV rays.

Type of UV rays:

Sunscreens are formulated to protect against UVA rays, UVB rays, or both. Always look for an SPF that offers broad spectrum protection against both types to give your skin the ultimate shield against sun exposure.

SPF number:

The SPF number dictates how long it would take the UV rays to redden the skin using sunscreen compared to not applying anything at all. For example, using SPF30 would take 30 times longer for the skin to burn versus using no sunscreen. SPF products are generally created at 15, 30 and 50+. Always opt for 50+ if your exposure to sun is quite high and you spend some time outdoors.

Water resistance:

While most SPF products claim to be waterproof, no SPF is entirely water resistant. In fact, most wear off within an hour of swimming. Always reapply SPF immediately after swimming, or every two hours if not swimming to top up on protection.

Why SPF is Important

1. Reduce signs of aging: Aging is accelerated by environmental or extrinsic factors, including sun exposure. UV radiation, particularly for prolonged periods of time, can cause premature breakdown of collagen, which keeps the skin supple and elastic. This causes early wrinkles and fine lines to appear. In addition, UV exposure causes oxidative damage to the skin, resulting in pigmentation issues and dark spots associated with aging skin. Using SPF can significantly reduce the damage caused by UV rays to accelerate aging, keeping your skin youthful for longer.

1. Lower risk of sunburn: Accidentally staying out in the sun for too long can cause sunburn, which is triggered by an inflammatory reaction. This can cause redness, peeling, irritation, itching and swollen skin. While you can treat sunburn naturally, aim to avoid it in the first place by using the right protection on your skin by routinely applying SPF and staying in the shade.

1. Reduce risk of skin cancer: The most common types of skin cancer are triggered by UV radiation as the number one cause. While genetic factors can come to play, UVA and UVB ray exposure significantly increases the risk of developing melanoma, squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell skin cancer. Consistent, daily application of SPF - even on cloudy days - is absolutely vital to healthy, protected skin.

1. Prevents hyperpigmentation and discoloration: Changes in the production of melanin, our natural skin’s pigment, can be disrupted by overexposure to sun rays. Hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin darkens in certain areas, causing patchy colors and brown spots. Because UV rays can wreak havoc to your melanin’s natural production, it’s important to keep on top of your SPF application to avoid hyperpigmentation.

1. Lowers inflammation and irritation: Sun rays increase the body’s natural inflammatory response, as it acts as a stress on the skin. In fact, UV radiation can damage the DNA of immune cells that play a part in protecting our skin, causing irritation, inflammation and redness. Those with sensitive skin types, particularly sun-sensitive individuals with rosacea and eczema must protect their skin against further inflammation from UV rays by using adequate SPF protection.

Who should apply sunscreen?

Absolutely everyone. From children to women and men and vulnerable groups, SPF is a daily staple that no one should miss. UV rays can even penetrate through windows and gloomy days - meaning you shouldn’t go a day without applying protection. In fact, up to 80% of UV radiation makes it through, even when it’s cloudy. Stay safe and protected everyday.

Conclusion:

SPF is incredibly important year round, especially in summer months to protect against skin cancer, inflammation and aging. Always choose a high quality SPF with no harsh chemicals and ingredients that can damage ocean life.

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