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Sunscreen for Men: Why you should Wear Sunscreen Every Day?
Men in their 20s and 30s are generally active and participate in many outdoor activities. Most men of this age group pay little attention to the use of sunscreen or the need for sunscreen.
Sunscreen for men is essential for their skin protection. Sunscreen is not just a women thing as UVA, UVB and IR rays damage the skin of both men and women equally. UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin resulting in collagen damage whereas UVB rays cause sunburns and tannins as it majorly affects the skin’s outer layer.
Studies have revealed that most men or we can say the majority of men do not apply sunscreen. Only 14% of men use sunscreen regularly, and this number is very much less than women. This conducts men more vulnerable to sunburn and sun damage, which can further cause pigmentation and aging of the skin.
Why Should Men Also Wear Sunscreen?
Men’s skin may be a little thicker, darker in color and rougher as compared to women’s skin but it doesn’t mean that men’s skin should not be taken care of. Men too should use suncare protection or sunblock products like SPF 50 sunscreen lotion or sunscreen gel according to his skin type when out in the sun.
Wearing sunscreen regularly reduces the lifetime exposure of skin to the harmful UV radiations and also it shields the skin from adverse effects the UVA, UVB and IR radiations. Therefore men should also use sunscreen to avoid excessive exposure and to protect their skin from harmful emissions.
Listed below are the things behind why sunscreen used by men:
1. Protection from harmful UV rays
2. Enhances health of the skin
3. Prevents age spots and dark spots on face
5. Antioxidant-rich sunscreen protects fine lines and wrinkles
7. Sunscreen protects every skin types
Protection from harmful UV rays
The continuous depletion of the ozone layer has put us at a higher risk of getting affected by the harmful sun rays. As we all know that UVA, UVB and IR radiations are being continuously emitting from the sun.
The intensity of UVA rays is the same during both winters as well as summers. It is the UVA rays that can penetrate deeper into the skin and can cause skin cancer and skin aging. The damage caused by UVA rays is not reversible.
The intensity of the UVB rays varies from summer to winter, and these are the rays that cause sunburn and suntan. UVB rays do not penetrate deeper into the skin, but it affects the outer layer of the skin.
Wearing sunscreen regularly can protect your skin from the harmful effects of these radiations and can prevent premature skin aging and photoaging. A good sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 with antioxidant protection is suitable to reduce sun damage.
Enhances health of the skin
Collagen, keratin, and elastin are generally the essentials proteins of the skin that are protected by sunscreen. The supporting structure of the skin is made by collagen and elastin. Elastin keeps the skin tight and collagen firms the skin. These skin proteins are essential for keeping the skin healthy and smooth and also helps to maintain the rigidity of the skin.
Prevents age spots and dark spots on face
Sunscreens prevent & help to reduce age spots, uneven skin tone and also lowers the appearance of dark spots. Wearing sunscreen also helps to bring down the appearance of blotchiness and facial red veins too.
When the skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays, cells produce melanin which causes the darker colour of the skin and is also responsible for causing brown age spots on the skin. Therefore, one of the essential ways to protect the skin and also to lighten the age spots caused by sun exposure.
Preventing skin cancer
Melanoma (malignant melanoma), basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the three main types of skin cancer caused by harmful sun rays. The most severe form of skin cancer is melanoma and starts in the skin pigment cells that are melanocytes whereas non-melanoma skin cancers are highly curable when treated earlier.
Sunscreen having broad-spectrum SPF of 15 or higher SPF rating 30 or SPF 50 helps not only to prevent sunburns or suntans but also reduces the risk of early skin ageing and skin cancer.
Antioxidant-rich sunscreen protects fine lines and wrinkles
Studies have shown that UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin and damage the elastic fibre that is collagen. Collagen helps to keep the skin firm and damage to collagen allows the development of wrinkles. Therefore wearing Antioxidant-rich sunscreen regularly not only protects the skin but also helps in reversing the signs of skin aging and wrinkles as it avoids damage to the elastic fibres.
Sunscreen on a cloudy day
Wearing sunscreen even on a cloudy day is necessary. A study shows that around 80 per cent of the ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. Therefore you can get a sunburn even on a cloudy day by not wearing sunscreen. Snow reflects up to 80 per cent of harmful UV rays that increase the exposure and also the intensities of UV rays are higher at high altitudes.
Sunscreen protects every skin types
People with darker complexion confers some natural protection from sunburns and suntans due to the presence of melanin, but still, protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation is needed. People having fair skin complexion are more prone to develop skin cancer. Therefore it is recommended to use the best sunscreen for men on every skin type and also to use it regularly when going out in the sun or even on a cloudy day.
Sunscreen for men’s oily skin
Generally, men population has more likely to have oily skin as compared to women. So men with oily skin, acne-prone skin or sensitive skin should either use an ultralight sunscreen or gel-based sunscreen or sunscreen which has a gel-like texture. These sunscreens gels are best to use in case of oily skin and also for combination skin. Sunscreen for oily skin offers excellent protection from harmful sun rays and will also not gives prominence to the oiliness of the skin.
When to Apply Sunscreen?
Damaging UV rays penetrate whenever the skin is exposed to the sun. Therefore it is advised to use broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. The benefits of using sunscreen gel every day may not be noticeable today, but the advantages are felt in the long run. When out in the sun for a long time either if you are enjoying a sunbath or working, the application of sunscreen after every two hours is very useful in protecting the skin from sunburns.
