It’s vital to protect your skin whenever you are outside. The reason is because of the risk of skin cancer. Recent stats show that almost 9,500 people in the U.S. get diagnosed with skin cancer every day. The high ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun are bad for the skin and cause sunburns.
You’ve probably heard that you should always wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays of the sun. However, did you know there are other ways to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays? With sun protection products such as UPF clothes, sun hats, creams with high SPF etc. one can protect their skin from the sun.
Sun protective products are so effective that they can reduce skin cancer risk by up to 98 percent. However, there is a lot of debate about how good sun protective products are and if it prevents skin cancer.
In this article, you will learn what sun-protective products are and how it prevents skin cancer. Keep reading.
What Are Sun Protective Products?
Sun protection products are items made from specific materials to shield the skin from UV radiation. And in turn, it guards the skin against sunburn and extreme sun exposure.
These products can help you avoid developing skin cancer. Also, it can help prevent early skin aging, such as wrinkles, sun spots, or flaky skin.
Examples of these products are sunscreen, sun protection clothing, etc.
How Can You Use Sun Protective Products to Prevent Cancer?
Most people are only concerned about staying away from the sun. However, the time you spend under the sun also matters. Each time you go to the beach or lake to relax, the longer you stay, the more exposed you are to the sun.
Although sunlight is the key source of UV radiation, you don’t have to avoid the sun fully. You still need your daily dose of natural vitamin D.
Also, staying indoors would be absurd if it stops you from being active, as exercise is vital for perfect health.
However, too much is not good for your skin. That’s where the need for sun-protective products comes in. Below are how these products limit exposure to UV rays and prevent cancer.
Sun Protection Clothing :
To protect yourself from the sun’s UV rays, sun protection clothing can be a huge help.
UV Clothing’s protection remains constant and doesn’t diminish. It has various clothing options that include long-sleeved shirts, long pants, long skirts, etc. Then when you go to the beach, swimwear with a UPF factor is the best.
However, when you want to get your clothing, get one that states its UV protection factor (UPF) value.
The reason is that it gives you an insight into the number of UV rays the clothing can absorb. The best UPF values are from 15 to 100. Note that the higher the UPF value, the higher the protection.
You can get great UV-blocking clothes at UV Skinz. They manufacture UPF 50+ sun protective apparels that block out 98% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. That makes them great options for those that spend prolonged time under the sun.
UV-Blocking Sunglasses :
The next product is UV sunglasses. Covering the eyes and the facial skin around them requires wearing UV-blocking sunglasses.
Spending much time outside without eye protection increases your risk of developing certain eye illnesses. Examples of eye diseases are cataracts and eye cancer.
The best UV-blocking sunglasses should be able to filter 90 % to 99% of UV rays. So ensure you check the details of the glasses on their tag to see if it has such features before you buy them.
Always remember that the UV protection provided by glasses is independent of the color or darkness of the lenses. Instead, UV protection is an invisible chemical that gets included in or applied to the lenses.
Finally, note that the finest glasses to wear or buy are wrap-around designs with a large frame. The reason is that it prevents UV rays from entering your eyes from various sides.
Sun Protection Factor(SPF) Hats :
An SPF hat is best made with at least two to three inches of brim all the way around. The reason is to shield your ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp from the sun’s harsh rays.
Also, to prevent the amount of UV radiation that reaches the face from reflected objects, it is best to add a dark, non-reflective base to the brim.
But, ensure you avoid wearing straw hats with sun-seeking holes. Even a hat that is darker can also provide additional UV defense.
Sunscreen :
The final product is sunscreen. And you must get it done the right way. According to John Hopkins Medicine, you must use sunscreens every two hours. However, sunscreen only acts as a filter and can not fully block all UV rays.
So if you intend to stay out for long, do not use only sunscreen. Instead, ensure to add other products listed above. The reason is that some UV rays still pass through even when applying sunscreen the right way.
Sunscreen comes in various forms, such as cream, gel, lotions, etc. When getting sunscreen for your skin, ensure it has the following factors;
- Broad Spectrum: An ideal sunscreen must possess a wide spectrum that blocks UVA and UVB rays.
- SPF: SPF values tell how well it can block UV rays from attacking the skin. The best sunscreen comes with SPF values that start from 15 to 100. The higher the value, the more it will protect the skin.
- Water Resistance: Note that there is no ideal sunscreen that is waterproof. Most sunscreen gets advertised as water resistant for at most 40 to 80 minutes. After this time frame, it offers no protection, especially after swimming.
- Expiring Date: If the sunscreen has no expiring date, note that it has a half-shelf life of fewer than 3 years. But it’s better to buy one with an expiration date.
Finally, you already know sunscreen alone can’t protect your skin for long. In the absence of other products, ensure you reapply the sunscreen at least every 2 hours. If you are at the beach, apply it after swimming or sweating.
Bottom Line
With everything discussed, do sun-protective products prevent cancer? Yes, it does! The best way to avoid skin cancer is to use sun-protective products daily. You should also start early.
Most skin cancers are due to unprotected sun exposure. But with the proper sun protection, you can avoid most skin cancers. So take steps to prevent UV damage on your skin. Good luck.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Other people found interest in sun-protective products preventing cancer. Below are some of the questions;
What Is the Best Sunscreen to Prevent Cancer?
The best sunscreen that prevents cancer is one with a broad spectrum. As such, it protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Also, it must be light enough for daily use with an SPF value of at least 15.
What Happens if You Use Sunscreen every day?
Using sunscreen daily can aid in preventing skin alterations and cancer.
What Are the Benefits of Sun Protection?
Sun protection benefits are:
- Less risk of skin cancer.
- Protecting skin from severe sunburn.
- Reducing signs of aging.
