Don’t forget your spf!

Don’t forget your spf!

Most of us grew up with a false misconception that wearing sunscreen is solely reserved for pool or beach days. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Wearing SPF is highly important and should be part of our daily routine, whether you are walking your dog, driving, or simply sitting by a window. Ultraviolet light is invisible to humans due to it’s shorter wavelengths, but it is very much present and can cause damaging effects on the skin. Wearing sunscreen protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. There are two types of rays that can cause damaging effects on the skin, UVB rays and UVA rays. UVB rays cause sunburns, while UVA rays cause long- term skin damage, such as, tanning, skin aging, and wrinkles. Both types of rays are damaging and can cause skin cancer. Wearing sunscreen creates a shield that protects your skin from these harmful rays. Sunscreen can either cause the light to scatter or reflect away from your skin. Remember, the higher the spf the better. SPF, sun protection factor, measures a suncreen’s effect against UVB rays. The higher the SPF, the longer the effects of sunscreen last. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Don’t put your health at risk and apply sunscreen daily.