Now that summer is approaching, I think it is important that we have this talk. Do you wear sunblock regularly? If not, then this intervention is beyond necessary! Of course, we all have heard that sunblock is important to protect ourselves from sunburn and skin cancer. But did you know how important the use of sunblock is to protecting the integrity of the skin? Well in this weeks blog, you will learn all about sunblock, and how it protects us from age spots, acne scares, wrinkles, and over all protects the appearance of our skin!

First off, lets break down the basics of sun exposer and why its so important to protect ourselves from it. We get it, who does not love a tan complexion. The whole beauty of summer is the sun being out all day, which implies pool days and beach weekends galore. We hardly ever affiliate summer with premature aging and a side of acne scares, but we should! It is totally hard to hear, but unfortunately the truth needs to be heard! There are some major consequences that come along with sun exposer and being tan. Unprotected sun exposer is truly dangerous. Ever heard of Melanoma? Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, and it is directly correlated with sun exposer and ultraviolet radiation. Of course this is a very extreme case of sun exposer, but it is still possible. Particularly among people with fair skin, light eyes, and blond or red hair.

Sunlight consists of ultraviolet (UV) rays. We’ve all heard of UVA and UVB rays, because many sunblocks claim protection from them. But do we even really know what they are? UVA rays are the rays that increase the signs of premature aging, and UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer development. It is important to use a sunscreen that protects us from both. The sunblocks that do have an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15, and contain either zinc, titanium dioxide, or both! Zinc is an important component to buying a sunblock. Every sunblock should have zinc, but unfortunately that is not always the case. We get it, zinc leaves behind a white filter on our skin which everyone tries to avoid. But not every sunblock with zinc has that factor, you just need to find which is best for you and your skin tone. Zinc oxide is a mineral that has had a long history of use as a sun protection. It provides broad spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays, and is considered one of the safest options in sunscreens.

So to sum it up, sunblock is important. If you are concerned about age spots, premature wrinkles, or acne scares then its best to wear a sunblock (with zinc) at all times. A hat and some big sunglasses would not hurt either! But if you do enjoy having a tan complexion, we understand. There is nothing more relaxing then a day at the beach, with the warm sun glistening off the ocean. But there is also absolutely nothing relaxing about pre mature wrinkles, acne scares, and skin cancer! So keep that in mind the next time you decide to nap on the sand with no sun protection. If you are having a heard time deciding which sunblock is best for you, stop by Lea Advanced Skincare, and we will add the best sunblock for your complexion to your regimen!