Not only you but also everybody else embrace some sort of myths and continue to believe them as “facts” during their whole lives. However, debunking myths become important when they have negative impacts on your skin and appearance. Awareness about the use of sunscreen has come a long way, but many myths still exist. Various research studies have claimed that misinformation about the use of sunscreen can do more harm than good to your skin.
MYTHS
- Dark-Skinned People Do Not Need Sunscreen
- Makeup Alone Can Protect the Face
- All Sunscreens Are the Same
- You don’t need to wear sunscreen indoors
- Sunscreens Last All Day
- You can’t get tan with SPF
- Sunscreen Can Cause Health Problems
1. Dark-Skinned People Do Not Need Sunscreen
Being dark-skinned does not imply that you are fully safe from the UV spectrum. Dark-skinned people have more melanin content in their bodies. During the exposure to sunlight, your body starts producing the melanin as a protection from sun damage, which increases the risk of sunspots, wrinkles, and cancer. Dark-skinned people tend to produce more melanin than light skin people, which makes them susceptible to sun damage.
2. Makeup Alone Can Protect the Face
Dermatologists opine that wearing makeup without sunscreen is one of the most unhealthy habits for your skin. Makeup does not protect your skin from the potential harms of UVA and UVB rays. Moreover, makeup only provides little protection and should not be considered an ultimate layer of protection. If you are among those who are scared of makeup from cracking while applying sunscreen, replacing your primer with sunscreen is a secret tip for you.
3. All Sunscreens Are the Same
It is a huge misconception or sunscreen myth that all the sunscreens are alike. A research study published in the international journal of Frontiers of Medicine has claimed that sun protection efficiency of sunscreen depends upon SPF (sun protection factor). This SPF number varies from sunscreen to sunscreen. Another important consideration is the list of active ingredients and sunscreen filters used in the formulation of sunscreen.
4. You don’t need to wear sunscreen indoors
It is another so widely believed myth that it is ok not to wear sunscreen when you are indoors. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the glass used in the windows of your cars; house, and offices are known to block maximum UVB rays but fail to filter the UVA rays. As per skincare experts, slathering on sunscreen while indoors may reduce the risk of premature skin aging.
5. Sunscreens Last All Day
People think that just one application of sunscreen is enough to lend a protection layer to your skin throughout the day. However, unfortunately, this is not the case. According to The American Academy of Dermatology, when you are outdoors, you should consider reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours.
6. You Are Not In Danger of Tanning
A broad sunscreen can offer optimum protection to you but this does not mean that your skin has no chance of getting tanned. Even though sunscreen protects you from most of the rays, still few may reach the skin to cause the damage. Various research studies claim that wearing sun protection clothing is another effective way to shield your skin from the sun.
7. Sunscreen Can Cause Health Problems
It is believed that sunscreen can cause various health problems related to the skin but this is a misconception. Weighing the pros and cons of active ingredients present in your sunscreen can keep you safe from any unwanted skin harms. For instance, many research studies have evaluated the negative effects of a commonly used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone on both human health and coral life.
Unprotected sun exposure has been identified as a major triggering factor to cause photoaging, collagen degradation, hyperpigmentation, actinic keratosis, and skin cancers. The long term unprotected exposure to UV rays can cause irreversible damage to your skin. Over time, your skin’s structure loses the ability to repair and heal. Hence, not taking too long may save your skin from faster aging. Once you gather the right information, choose the right product, and diligently slather the sunscreen you are not far away from achieving your flawless and youthful skin goals.
P.S.
New research findings unveil that sunscreens comprising the physical sunscreen filters such as Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide are the ideal and safe cosmeceutical innovations. The application of such sunscreens is considered good for people having acne-prone or oily skin with the most protection. Furthermore, these sunscreen formulations are known to sit on the surface of your skin and block UV radiations without clogging your pores.
