A Wren Says

Sigh, I rushed out the house today without putting on sunscreen. Let’s both get a refresh on why this item is important in your skin care regimen. You know that you should wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer, but you also should wear if you are just plain vain like me. Sunscreen can help protect you from premature skin aging due to the sun, referred to as photo aging.

Photoaging is what happens when you expose your skin to UV light. UV light causes damage by changing DNA in the deepest layer of the skin. You might not notice this damage immediately, but over time you will and by then it will be too late.

The signs of photo damage include wrinkles, broken capillaries or spider veins on the face, redness or blotchiness, and uneven skin texture. Some of these conditions can be treated, but it is best to avoid them by taking precautions against UV light.  

This issue is caused by two of the three types of UV light. UVA causes damage to all layers of the skin, especially effecting the elasticity of the skin and capillaries. UVB causes damage to the DNA leads to precancerous cells. (By the way this DNA damage is part of what ends up setting up the conditions for skin cancer, but that discussion is above my knowledge level).

Here is a reminder for how to wear your facial sunscreen

1. Use an amount that would fill a teaspoon to cover your face and neck.
2. Wait 15 minutes before you go out in the sun to let the product form the protective film on your skin.
3. Use an SPF 30 or higher if you will be spending extensive time outside. SPF 15 should be enough if you will only be outside intermittently.
4. And yes, even in the winter and when it’s cloudy out, please wear your sunscreen even then.

If you are trying to improve your skin, your best anti-aging ingredient is SPF. So everyone, remember to include sunscreen in your skincare regimen.

Here are the sources I used. Check them out to learn more for yourself.

Carroll, M. (2020). 9 Must-Know Facts About Sunscreen. National Foundation for Cancer Research. https://www.nfcr.org/blog/9-must-know-facts-about-sunscreen/

Richard, E. (2022). All about sunscreen: Why you need it. How it works for you. Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/

Wong, M. (2022). Why Do I Need to Apply Sunscreen Before Sun Exposure? Lab Muffin Beauty Science. https://labmuffin.com/need-apply-sunscreen-sun-exposure/

Yale Medicine. (2024). Photoaging (skin damage). https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/sun-damage