When I was 22, I noticed how a younger female friend had beautifully and evenly coloured cappuccino-like tone throughout her body. She told me she was a sun worshipper. Forget the sun I thought. I was most intrigued in how she cleverly achieved the ‘perfect tone’. I found out that she religiously lay under the sun using a sunscreen with sun protection 5 to achieve it. And she kept applying it throughout the day because she lay under the sun for hours turning every part of her body to achieve perfection. Little did I realise that in a few years, her skin had wrinkled and she was no longer exhibiting the radiant youthful looks a person in their late 30s should do.
I used sunscreen and always chose the fully packed sun protection factor. My skin is the largest organ on my body and if it broke down, I cannot imagine what else looked like of the inside of my body! I gradually learned how important sunscreen is in thwarting UVB and the most damaging UVA rays.
UV or ultraviolet rays arrive out from the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. I also realised that UVB rays is not as damaging as UVA. And whenever I thought my skin was starting to ‘bake’ or turn brown, I was exposing myself to harmful rays. It is true but I after discovering what UVA is, that shook me hard.
Actually, UVA penetrates deep into our skin’ dermis. And the dermis is the thickest layer. When I had lain under the sun on a beach, even with effective sun protection factor, it had to be in a reasonable amount of time. UVA damages our skin and causes premature ageing and the wrinkling effect that we see in some sports enthusiasts that spend copious amounts of time under the sun. What is most terrifying is that UVA can cause gene mutation and has been known to be the cause of different skin cancers. My knowledge and having observed what transpired in my female friend changed my behaviour toward the sun! Here are my five reasons sunscreen is important to me:
- Our skin is the largest organ on my body.
- UVA damages our skin and causes premature ageing and wrinkles.
- UVA can cause gene mutation and has been known to be the cause of skin cancer.
- UVA rays can pass through cloud and glass. Our skin will be exposed to UVA rays in cloudy day and while driving and sitting by the window.
- Sunscreen keeps our skin healthy against damages caused by UV rays.
Be safe. Be protected.
