SUNSCREEN IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

Why wearing sunscreen is one of the best things you can do for your skin.

The sun is good for us. We need the sun (Vitamin D, stronger bones, better immunity, etc.), and spending quality time soaking in the rays is widely advocated by doctors, skin specialists and wellness gurus.

But not without protection. Particularly if you live in a country like Australia, with its higher-than-normal UV index and skin cancer rates.

Traditionally, sunscreen was used to protect the skin from sunburn. A happy, colourful bottle of sunscreen would accompany folks to the beach, on outdoor treks or to a picnic. It wasn't something one wore daily.

But we know different now. Being exposed to the sun in any way comes with risks both big and small. Beauty and skin care experts, and even doctors who tell us to get some sun, put special emphasis on the importance of sunscreen in our daily skin-care regimen.

3 REASONS WHY SUNSCREEN IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST

1. Protection from sunburns: Let's get the most obvious benefit out of the way. If you spend a fair amount of time in the sun, your face and body are exposed to harmful UV-B rays. These bad boys have a radiation effect on living tissue, causing skin to become red, inflamed, sensitive and hot to the touch. responsible for sunburn. Yes, you read that right. Sunburns are a form of radiation. A pretty good reason to go out and buy some sunscreen.

2. Prevention of skin damage that causes ageing: An incredible amount of money gets spent on beauty and skin-care products, all in the effort to look youthful. Without a good sunscreen, a lot of that money will go to waste. Exposure to the sun's UV-A rays is associated with skin ageing. They can cause fine lines, pigmentation, wrinkles, and age spots, and make us look prematurely older. Want to look young? Invest in a quality sunscreen before slopping on expensive creams and makeup.

3. Protection against skin cancers: UV-A and UV-B are both carcinogenic, and long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin cancers. This is regardless of the skin colour. Darker-skinned folks are at as much risk of sun-related skin cancer as light-skinned people. Sunscreen (along with other protection like hats and visors) helps protect against this potentially deadly disease..

The sunscreen market is wide and varied, with different levels of sun protection (SPF). There's a type of sunscreen for everyone: heavy-duty ones for people who spend a lot of time outdoors, light ones to wear under makeup, sunscreen for sensitive skin, for oily skin, sunscreen for kids, and more. Somewhere out there, there's a sunscreen with your name on it. Slap some on, add a hat and go get that Vitamin D.