Beauty is only skin deep… but your skin is seven layers deep, so if you’re on a mission to maintain your beauty and health, here are some considerations centering on sunscreen.
What happens to your skin when you don’t use sunscreen?
Most of us know what happens when we do apply sunscreen: it prevents sunburns and early aging. (As an aside, “early aging” refers to the premature appearance of dark spots/hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines that indicate damage to skin cells. Aging skin is a natural phenomenon that occurs over decades and should not be a cause for concern).
But what happens when we don’t apply sunscreen?
The biggest risk skin is exposed to without sunscreen is radiation.
What is radiation?
There are two types of radiation that are most common when it comes to sun damage: UVA and UVB.
The “UV” stands for “ultraviolet” which means the light is not actually visible. So, when it’s cloudy and you see no sunshine, you still need sunscreen to block the invisible ultraviolet light. Otherwise, it will have a direct (negative) impact on your skin.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, ultraviolet A is associated with skin aging. Ultraviolet B is associated with skin burning.
Results of radiation:
- Hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
- Skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there were over 5.4 million nonmelanoma cases of skin cancer in over 3.3 million Americans in recent years.
- Early aging. Wrinkles and fine lines are caused by your own collagen being broken down by sun exposure.
So how can you protect your skin from the effects of radiation?
How to protect and restore your skin
Protect: Broad spectrum sunscreen. You can buy different types of sunscreens for your body, including face sunscreens that won’t clog pores and body sunscreen for full protection.
Look for “broad spectrum” SPF. This (usually) means that the sunscreen prevents damage from both UVA and UVB rays, which have different wavelengths.
Pay with your FSA or HSA.
Sunscreen is considered an eligible expense under pre-tax health accounts as long as the sunscreen is SPF 15 or higher and offers broad-spectrum protection.
Find your perfect sunscreen. (Buying through an HSA? Shop here.)
The material in this blog is presented for informational purposes only and such information is believed to be accurate as of the publication date; however, it is subject to change.
Benefit Resource, LLC is an affiliate of Inspira Financial Health, Inc. and Inspira Financial Trust LLC. Benefit Resource, LLC and its affiliates do not provide legal, tax or financial advice. Please contact a professional for advice on eligibility, tax treatment and other restrictions.
