Olay Articles

If you wear sunscreen some of the time, is that enough? Missing one day won't hurt, will it? Unfortunately, missing one day is a problem. There is convincing scientific data to support the need to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to keep your skin looking great for life. Dr. Darrell Rigel, a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology, conducted a study that showed that each week the average woman is exposed to 18 hours of combined indoor and outdoor sunlight. More than you thought, right? Most of this sun exposure is driving your children around, taking out the garbage, sitting in front of a sunny window, etc. Most women don't get the majority of their sun exposure lying on the beach!

A second study conducted by Dr. Tania Phillips demonstrated the increased damage women receive by wearing their sunscreen only three days out of four, instead of daily. The difference was seen under the microscope, but eventually, microscopic changes can translate into wrinkles and skin cancer. The message here is that you must wear your sun protection daily!

Fortunately, wearing daily sun protection in the form of a sunscreen-containing moisturizer is easy. These products should contain both UVB and UVA protection. UVB rays from the sun are especially known for causing burning, while UVA rays are mostly known for aging and skin cancer. A popular UVB protectant is octymethoxycinnarnate, while excellent UVA protectants are microfine zinc oxide or avobenzone. These substances can be identified on the back of a sunscreen bottle under active ingredients.

Putting a sunscreen-containing moisturizer on a clean washed face or under cosmetics should become an important part of your daily grooming routine. If you should brush your teeth so they will last a lifetime, why shouldn't you wear sunscreen to keep your skin healthy for life?