First Law of Ageless Skin: Sunblock is not Negotiable

Sunblock Every Day?

by PS Luisa Ganassi

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The answer is yes, every day - it is not a luxury item, nor is it intended only for women.  We all need to take care of the skin, which is the largest organ in the body; it works as a barrier to the external environment. The sun's radiation is invisible, known as UV rays, which penetrates the skin and damages it.  The damage occurs when the amount of UV rays exceeds the capacity of the body's protective pigment, melanin. This burn, like one produced by a thermal agent, produces the same effects on the skin. In fact, when we tan, the color of the skin changes due to cell death and damage.

Sunscreen has the exclusive function of protecting human skin from UV radiation - absorbing, scattering or reflecting it. Today in the market, there is a wide variety of brands and presentations.  Sunscreen can be found  in gel, spray, cream or oil, with or without dye; the important thing is that you feel comfortable and that it fulfills its function. Sun protection is necessary all year round, no matter the season or temperature, UV rays are always present;  the ideal is to apply it every two hours if you are going to be exposed to the sun.

A good sunscreen should have the following characteristics: It does not cause skin irritation, it is odorless and tasteless, it is stable in the sun, it has resistance to external agents such as sweat and water, and it does not leave an oily sensation.

The sun protection factor SPF (sun protection factor) is a laboratory measurement that quantifies the effectiveness with which a sunscreen will protect the skin, the higher the SPF, the greater the protection.  For example,  if we use a sunscreen SPF 50, this indicates that the skin does not burn until it has been exposed to 50 times the amount of solar energy that the skin would normally need to burn.

The sun produces moles and spots in people with prolonged exposure to UV rays.  If they appear more frequently and in greater quantity, check them periodically, since some could turn into skin cancer.  If it appears, the removal of the moles is a very simple procedure - do not risk your life and the tranquility of the people who love you for being tanned.

And remember, it is not the beauty you have, but that  you know how to wear it.