Exposure to the sun is one of the most common risk factors associated with the occurrence of melanoma. Therefore, to prevent the occurrence of melanoma, it is extremely important to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. In fact, protection from the sun is considered to be the easiest way to avoid millions of cancer cases every year. When it comes to the prevention of melanoma, a recent study showed that only 14% of men and only 30% of women in the country apply sunscreen on their skin one hour before stepping out in the sun.
So, to avoid the harmful effects of the sun and for the prevention of melanoma, here are some sunscreen tips that you can follow.
Apply sunscreen every day
Sunscreen is the easiest way to protect yourself from the sun. In fact, sunscreen is alone considered a complete protection strategy. Regular application of sunscreen with an SPF 15 has been associated with the reduced risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by approximately 40 percent. It has also been linked with lowered chances of melanoma by 50 percent.
Who should apply sunscreen?
Anyone can use sunscreen. Men, women, and children who are above 6 months of age should apply sunscreen before they step out and expose their skin to harmful sun rays. There could be people who do not get tanned easily. But that does not mean that you do not require sunscreen. The application of sun protection cream is essential for everyone, even if your skin does not burn. Exposure to the sun over the years sooner or later will damage your skin irrespective of how much your skin burns. Therefore, everyone must apply sunscreen before heading out in the sun.
How to pick the right sunscreen?
For the prevention of melanoma and other skin cancers, you must know how to pick the right sunscreen for your skin. As per the Skin Cancer Foundation, the best sunscreen for skin protection is the one that has a broad spectrum with at least an SPF 15. Also, you must love the sunscreen that you use. If you like its texture and fragrance, you are more likely to repeat its use.
Besides, you can also choose a sunscreen that contains active ingredients that protect you from the UV rays of the sun. To pick the best sunscreen for skin protection, you can look for the following:
- Physical sunscreen ingredients: Look for ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in your sunscreen. These ingredients block and scatter the sun’s rays and do not let them penetrate the skin.
- Chemical sunscreen ingredients: These include avobenzone and octisalate. These ingredients absorb the UV rays and prevent the skin from damage.
Both the physical and chemical ingredients of sunscreens have been tested for safety for human use. If your skin is extremely sensitive, you can ask a dermatologist to recommend a sunscreen brand for your skin.
