Over the past 31 years, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined, but fortunately, it is highly preventable. Scientific studies have determined that daily use of sunscreens can reduce your chances of developing some forms of skin cancer.*
Also, up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.*
It is best to select a sunscreen that:
- Prevents damaging rays.
Sunlight contains damaging ultraviolet B and A rays. UVB rays are typically associated with sunburn; UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin and can cause sunlight-induced premature skin aging, wrinkling and age spots. Both UVB and UVA rays damage skin and can lead to skin cancer - even on cloudy and winter days.
Suncreens absorb, reflect or scatter UV light to protect the skin. There are two types of sunscreens, physical and chemical:
- Physical sunscreens reflect or scatter UV light before it penetrates the skin.
- Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays before they cause damage.