Wearing sunscreen helps protect the skin from damage caused by UV light from the sun. Sunscreen helps prevent sunburns, premature skin aging (ex. wrinkles and dark spots), and skin cancer. It’s important to wear sunscreen every day, even when it’s cloudy or snowy outside. This is because 80% of the sun’s rays are still able to pass through clouds, and UV rays reflected in the snow can still cause damage to the skin.
Sunscreens contain ingredients that block harmful UV rays from the sun. Sunscreens usually have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) number indicated in their labels. This number indicates the level of sunburn protection the product can give. Generally, the higher the SPF, the better the product can protect against sunburn.