You cannot leave the house without this product on. No makeup or makeup, this product is on everyone’s vanity. What are we talking about, you think? Sunscreen! That’s right. This product is the most important step of your skin prep every day.

While it does have amazing benefits, like protecting your skin and preventing aging, there are myths that need busting. Many myths about this product in the area people, eyes on this page to know more.

Why should I apply sunscreen?

Sunscreen is a photoprotective topical product, that is formulated to help the skin protect itself from

Sunburn

Premature aging

Environmental damage

Skin cancer

Skin issues

Even on days when it is cloudy, raining, or even storming, your SPF lotion keeps your skin protected.

Myths about sunscreen

You’ve been on the internet, everyone has mentioned how sun protection is important. Despite being an essential product, misconceptions about it have still rise. Many people believe they don’t need a sunblock, some rely on alternatives.

When I was in my teens, I believed the higher the SPF the better the protection, and I was so wrong. If you had the same belief as me, that myth will be busted in this article. Believing in these things can lead to skin damage or even worse. Let’s uncover these misconceptions right here.

Myth 1: You don’t need sunscreen every day

This is the most common myth about sunscreen. Lot of people skip sun block when the weather isn’t hot enough. To dive deeper, when it’s cloudy, rainy, storming, people tend to skip it thinking it’s not necessary.

This is a myth, you need sunblock no matter what the weather is outside. When you step outside, your body is exposed to the sunlight, which means it is exposed to UV. Even if the day is cloudy, the light still reaches you and can lead to skin damage.

Myth 2: Dark skin does not need sunscreen

Sunburn is more prominent on lighter skin, which can give people the misconception about it not being necessary for darker skin. Dark skin consists of higher melanin, which can save from sunburns naturally but to some extent.

Melanin can help protect against UVA rays but not UVB. UVB has the potential to penetrate deeper into the skin cells. Going long-term without any sun protection can lead to heavy damage, such as premature aging, wrinkles, and cancer. No matter your color, you require sun protection every day.

Myth 3: The higher the SPF the higher the protection

Didn’t we all believe this one? At least, me and my mom did, and turns out we were wrong. Many people believe higher the SPF (like SPF 50, or SPF 100) means higher protection, and they don’t reapply.

SPF only measures UVB, not UVA, and sadly, no sunscreen lasts all day. Reapplying after 2 hours is a must. Talking more about SPF, SPF 30 blocks 97% UVB and SPF 50 blocks 98% UVB. The higher number on the bottle can give you false hopes of higher protection.

Why does sunscreen need to be reapplied throughout the day?

Sunscreen stays on your skin as a layer, it can be washed off by sweat, natural oils, water exposure. Reapplying throughout the day ensures longer sun protection.

Myth 4: Coconut oil as sunscreen

Coconut oil has multiple benefits, it has antibacterial properties, moisturizes deeply, and soothes irritation. Many people use it as a natural sun protection too, as it has natural SPF. Coconut oil can protect against UVB rays but only to some extent.

The SPF level found in coconut oil is around 4-5 which is not enough to shield from harmful sunrays. It doesn’t protect against UVA rays, which penetrates deeper in skin and cause premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancer.

Myth 5: Sunscreen has no expiry

A lot of people believe sunscreen never expires, and keep on using expired sunblock. Like every product, sunblock too expires as it has active ingredients and they break down over time.

Using expired sunscreen provides little to no protection, you are putting your skin at risk.

These were few myths about sunscreen, now that you know the facts, here are some tips to use sunscreen to it’s best potential.

1. Use sunscreen everyday (no matter the weather)
2. Use a hat for extra protection from sunrays
3. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen, it provides protection against both UVA and UVB
4. Wear protective clothing
5. Choose sunscreen for your skin type
6. Always choose SPF 30 or higher
7. Avoid peak sun hours (12-4)

also read: Procrastination-What is it? 5 ways it slowly destroys

Conclusion

Knowing the truth behind these myths is necessary, it can save you and your loved ones from making mistakes regarding sun protection. Don’t overlook the importance of sun protection, it is an everyday mandatory product.

Stay sun safe, keep reapplying!