The Importance of Using Body Sunscreen

To completely protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, Sunscreen should be applied to your body as well as your face. Sunscreen comes in different forms: a lotion, spray, or gel. Sun's harmful  UV rays can cause sunburns, premature aging of the skin, sun pigmentation, and may even cause skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to use body sunscreen as it helps prevent these various skin issues. These issues are not limited to your face but extend to every part of your body exposed to the sun's harmful UV rays, making the use of sunscreen on your body of equal importance.

Why is Body Sunscreen Important?

The sun, along with giving us energy to sustain life, also sends out invisible rays that are extremely harmful and can damage the skin. These harmful invisible rays are ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. UVA rays cause wrinkles and age spots that lead to premature aging of the skin, and UVB rays cause sunburns. Both of these rays can cause skin cancer. Sunscreen helps by blocking, reflecting, or absorbing these harmful rays depending on the type of sunscreen you choose - physical/mineral or chemical sunscreen. It forms a barrier protecting your skin from damage. If you go out in the sun without sunscreen, you will get sunburn, which can be painful.

Also Read: Unlocking The Benefits of Face Serum

Types of Sunscreen

There are two main types of sunscreen: physical (or mineral) sunscreen and chemical sunscreen.

  • Physical Sunscreen: If a sunscreen features ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide naturally present, it is a physical sunscreen. It works by reflecting the sun's rays off the skin. It is good to use for people with sensitive skin because it doesn't usually irritate the skin.
  • Chemical Sunscreen: If a sunscreen features ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate, it is a chemical sunscreen. It works by absorbing the sun's rays and changing them into heat, which is then removed from the skin. Unlike most of the physical sunscreens, they are quite easy to use and don’t leave a white caste.

To get maximum protection from the sun's harmful UV rays, it is important to use body sunscreen correctly :

  • Apply a good amount: Take a generous amount of sunscreen; approximately three-finger length is enough for the face. It is important to apply it to other parts of your body to protect them from sun damage.

  • Apply Early: Before going out in the sun, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes prior for it to work in an effective way.

  • Reapply regularly: It is very important to reapply sunscreen every two to three hours as it wears off, especially when swimming or sweating.

  • Cover All Areas: Spots like the tops of your ears, the back of your neck, the tops of your feet, and every body part directly out in the sun are also important and should be protected by sunscreen as well.

  • Use Daily: It is important to apply sunscreen even on cloudy days because the harmful UV rays are quite strong and go through the clouds to reach your skin and cause damage to your skin. Applying sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine around the year so that you are always protected.

Also Read: What is SPF

Choosing the Right Sunscreen

While choosing a sunscreen for you, consider the following factors :

  • Sun Protection Factor (SPF): SPF measures how well the sunscreen protects against UVB rays. It is the first and the most important thing to consider when you select a sunscreen for you. An SPF 15 sunscreen blocks 93%, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. So, it's important to select a sunscreen that has a high SPF to get maximum protection from harmful UVB rays.

  • Broad-Spectrum Protection: Apart from SPF, it is also important to consider the PA rating of the sunscreen as PA+ blocks 40 - 50%, PA++ blocks 60 - 70%, PA+++ blocks up to 90%, and PA++++ blocks up to 95% of the harmful UVA rays. So, considering the PA rating along with SPF, it is quite important to stay protected against both UVA and UVB rays.

  • Water Resistance: A water-resistant sunscreen stays effective for long in water while swimming or when you are sweating. Reapplying it regularly is needed for complete protection.

  • Skin Type: It is also important that your sunscreen suits your skin type. The ingredients in your sunscreen should be comfortable on your skin. If you have oily skin, look for oil-free sunscreens that won’t clog your pores. People with dry skin should choose a hydrating sunscreen.

  • Ingredients: People with sensitive skin should use sunscreen with gentle and natural ingredients.

Using body sunscreen regularly has many benefits :

  • Reveals Radiant, Bright Skin

Because of vitamin C's antioxidant capacity, which has remarkable brightening effects on the skin and, with frequent usage, gives you a dewy finish and a brighter glow from within, sunscreen containing vitamin C has brightening benefits.

  • Keeps Aging Signs at Bay

Fine lines and wrinkles on the skin are signs of premature ageing that are caused by the sun's harmful UV rays. By shielding the skin from UV rays, sunscreen delays these signs of ageing.

  • Fights Sun-Induced Pigmentation and Dark Spots

It protects your skin from UV rays that might cause dark spots and protects it from sun-caused skin pigmentation.

  • Promotes Even Toned Skin

Sunscreen corrects pigmentation and dark spots, giving your skin a more even-toned appearance.

  • Reduces Redness and Inflammation

Stepping outside in the sun can result in scorching feelings on your skin, which can then create redness and inflammation.

  • Prevents Sunburns

Excessive exposure to the sun can result in sunburns on delicate skin, which can be quite painful and cause your skin to appear red.

Also Read: How To Make Ubtan at Home

A sunscreen that has it all :

Light Up Beauty's Gold Rush body sunscreen has a high SPF of 60 and PA++++ UVA/UVB filters that offer broad spectrum protection from the sun. It has all the benefits of a physical (or mineral) sunscreen and leaves no white caste like other physical sunscreens generally leave. Due to its ultra-lightweight texture, it absorbs in just 3 seconds without feeling heavy on the skin. It has THD Ascorbate - the Gold Standard of Vitamin C sunscreen, which is 50x more effective than regular Vitamin C found in the market and yet is very gentle on the skin, especially for sensitive skin people; it does not irritate the skin, and sits quite comfortably on the skin protecting and brightening simultaneously. For maximum protection, it should be applied to all areas exposed to the sun and not just to your face.

Conclusion:

Using sunscreen on the body is an important part of protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. By choosing the right sunscreen and using it correctly, you can avoid skin issues such as sunburn, signs of aging, and even the risk of skin cancer. This simple step can improve the overall skin health. Sunscreen should be applied in an adequate amount and reapplied regularly, especially if you are swimming or sweating. A high SPF sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection and has a PA++++ rating that suits your skin type should be chosen to get maximum protection from the sun.

In conclusion, sunscreen is the best defence against sun damage. By regular use, you not only prevent various harmful effects of the sun but also maintain an even-toned and healthy-looking skin. Making sunscreen an everyday habit will keep your skin protected. Light Up Beauty’s Gold Rush body sunscreen has all the things you need in sunscreen and more! It not only protects but also brightens the skin.