Do you believe in these Sunscreen Myths?
Here are the sunscreen myths that you might have been believing for so long but debunked by dermatologists.
Sunscreen is very important, especially when you are always outdoors in order to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. However, there are people who have certain beliefs about this cosmetic product.
“Base tan protects your skin” is considered a myth. Some people believe that when you are exposed to the sun and your skin gets tan, then, it will protect you against future sun exposure. However, based on the article in The Healthy, there is no such thing as a safe tan.
When you are exposed to UV light, they produce more melanin, the pigment that colors your skin. This explains why you are tan and is a sign that damage has been done.
Related to this, some people think that since they “have dark skin, they don’t need to worry” about getting exposed to UV light. MD, a Boston dermatologist and past president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery explained that people with more pigment in their skin will have a lower skin cancer risk but they’re not immune.
It is believed by some people also that “80 percent of sun damage occurs before age 18, so the injury is already done”. This is another myth because, at any age, protection should be done.
For some people, it is just important to protect your face but experts say that you can get skin cancer in the arms, legs, back, feet, and chest.
It is also believed by some people that sunscreen with above SPF 15 is a waste but this is not true. New York City dermatologist Doris Day, MD said that you really get the protection of an SPF 20 from an SPF 50 and it is based on how people actually apply it.
There is also a belief that staying under the sun could get you Vitamin D. However, this is a misconception because it was said that you need much less time in the sun to make adequate levels.
Some people just put on sunscreen during the peak tanning hours. Again, another myth. Dermatologists said that tanning at any hour of the day isn’t safe.