Misconceptions And Myths About Sunblock/Sunscreen In Skincare.
In your skincare journey you gonna find some myths that have no any medical or scientific basis whatsoever and can ruin your skin. One of them concerns sunscreens and sunblock, a crucial part of any skincare regimen. Sunscreen in skincare are basics of good skincare . Let`s debunk them one by one.
SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
Sunscreens and sunblock are essential components of any skincare regimen. Despite their importance, several misconceptions surround these products. One of the most alarming myths is that sunscreens cause skin cancer. This is entirely untrue. These kind of claims lack any medical or scientific basis. In fact, sunscreens are designed to prevent skin damage from harmful UVA and UVB sunrays, which are known contributors to skin cancer. By applying sunscreen, you are reducing your risk and protecting your skin. This can be more elaborated here.
Misconceptions And Myths About Sunscreen/Sunblock In Skincare.
1. Sunscreens/sunblock cause skin cancer.
This myth is as old as time, when we came to know we needed sunscreen/sunblock to protect our skin. Over time there have risen many conspiracy theories from Big Pharma involvement to 5G conspiracy though there`s no strong medical evidence to support such outrageous claims. People who believe in these theories think that sunscreen/sunblock contain ingredients that are carcinogenic. The ones that raises more concerns being chemical sunscreens. Mineral-based sunblock on the other hand have not being put in such scrutiny as the former. It is better to use a broad spectrum sunblock SPF 50 which contains zinc oxide or titanium oxide or both.
2. It is enough to apply sunscreen/sunblock once everyday.
This is another misconceptions that even people who live and breath skincare lifestyle find it hard to follow. First, your are so busy with your daily activities that you find it hard to re-apply your sunscreen/sunblock. Second, if you want to apply sunscreen/sunblock again you have to wipe off your makeup and start on a blank slate, it can be excruciating to do this over and over again. Though you should do it ,gal!
3. My sunscreen/sunblock is waterproof so I don`t need to apply after sweating/swimming.
Hey, hey, hey! Even if your sunscreen/sunblock brand claims to be waterproof you should re-apply it since sunscreen/sunblock reacts with your sweat or chlorine from swimming pool water. This reduces the efficacy of the sunscreen/sunblock overall.
4. I`m dark-skinned so I don`t need sunscreen/sunblock.
This is probably most absurd one but many people especially dark-skinned believe that since they`re 'blessed' with enough melanin then they cannot use sunscreen or sunblock. It is true that for the most part higher melanin helps in fighting off UVA and UVB sunrays and offer some natural protection but still it is important to protect our beautiful dark skin from hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone which seems to be a concern with dark skin.
Sometimes the sunscreen/sunblock are not well designed to fit our needs, we dark-skinned individuals. Many brands, leave a white cast on your skin which can be a turn off to apply sunscreen/sunblock. I would suggest that you find a tinted sunscreen/sunblock SPF 30 or SPF 50 for optimal results.
5. Oh, my makeup foundation/primer or body lotion contains sunscreen/sunblock/UV filters so I don`t need any.
WRONG! Chances are the makeup or body lotion has minimum of 30 SPF or contains UV filters that do not cover your requirements for maximum sun protection. However, the amount of product typically applied does not provide the level of protection needed compared to dedicated sunscreen/sunblock. You even apply very minimal makeup that does not cover all areas of the face. If chemical sunscreens keep you awake at night when there`s no sun then you probably should be more concerned by the UV filters.
6. I won`t wear sunscreen/sunblock today because outside is cloudy/cold/winter season.
Mmh! No, no, and no! Even when the weather seems cool, cold, cloudy or it`s that another winter season during Christmas you should always wear sunscreen/sunblock. Though the sun can trick you by hiding behind the clouds but you should be smart enough to know that UVA and UVB sunrays which you cannot see by your naked eyes still can penetrate clouds and affect your skin.
7. My sunscreen/sunblock has SPF 50+ so I don't need to re-apply.
This is usually done by people who have a half-baked information about skincare and sun protection. They think buying a higher SPF sunblock is going to solve the issue of re-applying it. Sadly, no it doesn`t work that way the sun will sneak in after those 2 hours and bake that skin of yours like a slice of bacon in an oven. The worst on the other hand, and even crazier some people will opt buying lower SPF sunscreen and then apply two to three layers of it expecting maximum protection from the sun!
Generally, I would advise you if you are reading this article right now to de-clutter your bathroom cabinet or vanity table of all sunscreens bottles finished or unfinished, below 30 SPF since they are useless anyway and hey!, you don`t necessary need sunscreen/sunblock over SPF 50.
How Do I Protect Myself From Sun Damage?
Cover yourself with caps, visors, parasols and other sun protection gear/attire.
Wear sunblock especially SPF 50, I can`t over-emphasize about that!
Avoid staying or doing unnecessary activities under the scorching sun especially from 10:00AM in the morning to 4:00 PM in the afternoon.
Avoid tanning beds and tanning products since they increase likelihood of developing cancer.