Why is Sunscreen the Most Important Part of Your Skincare Routine?

We all know that sunscreen is the holy grail product when it comes to skincare. It is considered to be one product that we must never exclude from our daily skincare regime. Even during ancient times, when sunscreen was not invented, the Greeks used olive oil and the Egyptians used a combination of lupine plants, rice and jasmine to protect their skin from the harsh rays of the sun. But do we know the meaning and importance of SPF-packed sunscreen that all dermatologists recommend their patients add this product to their skincare regime? Well, we are here to explain to you all the nitty-gritty about the importance of sunscreen in your skincare routine.

8 Benefits of Sunscreen in your Skincare Routine

It acts as a Shield- A broad-spectrum sunscreen shields us from the harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. The depleting ozone layer has been the main reason behind the increase in harmful UV rays in our atmosphere. It can have adverse effects on us. Sunscreen can protect us from all the risks of getting health problems when exposed to the sun.
Prevents Premature Aging- Prolonged exposure to the sun is directly linked with premature ageing and skin damage. Despite us wanting to look younger for a long time, we cannot avoid sun exposure completely. A broad-spectrum sunscreen can help us to get out, enjoy a sunny day and get on with our lives without any worries. It also protects our skin from getting photodamaged, sunspots, wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, freckles, dark patches and dry skin.
Lowers Skin Cancer Risk- It is proven by scientists that exposure to the sun for a long period without any kind of covering on the skin may increase the chances of getting skin cancer. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen daily on the exposed areas of our body while heading out helps us to prevent one of the worst types of life-threatening cancer i.e., skin cancer.
Removes blotches & patches- You can prevent irritating rashes, skin blotches, patches, and erupted veins that take place because of the sun by applying a generous amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen. It can also prevent sun-exposure-induced acne and blisters.
Prevents Sunburns- Sunburns are an extremely painful skin condition which is a result of being exposed to the sun for a long time. The UVB rays from the sun can cause skin peeling, blisters, redness, swelling, itching, breaking out into hives and permanent discolouration of the skin. Studies have found that blisters on the skin can cause skin cancer and repeated sunburns can increase the risk of causing lethal melanoma. The harmful sun rays can also cause skin thinning which is a condition where your skin is more prone to getting, cuts, bruises, tears or other damages. Applying sunscreen can prevent all of these issues.
Prevents Tanning- You may love getting tanned or hate getting tanned depending on the culture you belong to. However, tanning caused due to sun exposure does not cause any damage to the skin directly. But, to get a tan, you risk yourself getting exposed to UV rays which do harm our skin. It is always better to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 to stay protected.
Promotes healthy skin- Collagen, keratin and elastin are the building blocks of our skin. These are the naturally occurring proteins in our body that maintain the structure and health of our skin. Sun exposure can damage these proteins which in turn affects the condition of our skin. The skin starts to show signs of ageing like wrinkles, skin sagging, ageing spots, etc. Sunscreen protects these essential proteins in our body and helps maintain the structure and lustre of the skin.
A Good Beauty Cream- Sunscreen these days can also act as a good dupe for beauty creams such as tinted moisturisers, foundations or BB cream. These sunscreens are usually tinted and provide slight coverage to the skin as well. You can find many such options in the market to choose from. Apply them instead of any beauty cream and stay protected.

How to Use Sunscreen

The steps mentioned below is the appropriate method for using sunscreen-

Step-1: In the morning, wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove all the dirt accumulated in the oil pockets of your skin and the skincare products you applied the previous night.
Step-2: Continue with your regular skincare regime for the morning.
Step-3: Once done with your skincare, apply a generous amount of sunscreen on your face, neck and body.
Step-4: Let the sunscreen sit and dry for 20 minutes before leaving.
Step-5: For maximum protection, re-apply the sunscreen every 3-4 hours as the efficiency of the sunscreen reduces with exposure to the sun.

There have been several myths around sunscreen such as,

you do not require sunscreen on a cloudy day, applying sunscreen just once a day is sufficient,
sunscreen causes vitamin D deficiency,
you only need sunscreen when you are out on the beach or pool,
it is unsafe for children,
it is unsafe for people with sensitive skin,
people with acne should avoid using sunscreen as it aggravates the condition,
all sunscreens are fully waterproof and do not require reapplication after a swim.

Sunscreen Protection

But the fact is a broad-spectrum sunscreen does not do any harm to the skin and instead is highly essential to stay protected from all the harmful rays of the sun.

It is advised to always choose a waterproof or water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF-30 that has ingredients like Suncat DE, Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide for overall protection from UVA rays, UVB rays and blue light emitting from all the electronic gadgets that we use daily such as our cell-phones, laptops, tablets, televisions, etc.

So, choose the right sunscreen available in the market, stay protected from the harsh sunrays and keep donning healthy, glowing, supple and younger-looking skin!