Opinion: Why is it Necessary For People to Wear Sunscreen?

The sun, approximately 93 million miles from Earth, is an essential source of life and energy, and the human body soaks up its rays for good purposes. With the UV index of six to eight, being exposed to sunlight for about ten to fifteen minutes is enough.

According to M. Nathaniel Mead, there are many pros of being in the sun, such as synthesizing vitamin D in the skin. But prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation can lead to serious issues, such as skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer. 

Many people believe that it’s crucial to protect the human skin by wearing sunscreen whenever spending time in the sunny outdoors. Wearing sunscreen is beneficial to the human body in many ways.

First, sunscreen products protect human skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. These rays can cause a range of damage to the skin, including sunburn, skin aging, and skin cancer. Sunburn is not only painful, but it can cause long-term damage to the skin. Repeated sunburns can lead to premature aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines. 

Second, sunscreen helps prevent premature aging. Ultraviolet rays can penetrate the skin and cause damage to the cells that produce collagen, a protein that gives skin its elasticity and firmness. Overtime, this damage can lead to sagging skin, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. By wearing sunscreen regularly, the human skin is protected from ultraviolet damage and keeps it looking youthful and healthy longer.

Lastly, applying sunscreen reduced the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and the majority of cases are caused by exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, about 90 percent of skin cancer is related to the exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Also, in the United States, more than 419,000 cases of skin cancer are from indoor tanning.

Today, many teenagers, including adults, enjoy looking tan. Because of this, they either stay out in the sun longer than usual, use self-tanning products, or use tanning beds. It is to be said that half of these people do not have the knowledge of the consequences of these actions.

As a result, wearing sunscreen is crucial for maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin and reducing the risk of skin cancer. It is simple to incorporate sunscreen into daily routines and there are a variety of options available, including lotions, sprays, and powders.