Of all the ways to slow signs of aging, there’s perhaps no recommendation that has been around longer than this one: wear sunscreen. But why is wearing sunscreen so important? We’ll answer that and several other frequently asked questions about sunscreen for age prevention in this article.
What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Aging?
Aging is a normal biological process but there are many things that can slow and suppress the health conditions associated with getting older. Taking good care of yourself-physically, mentally, emotionally, and intellectually-is crucial. From staying active and eating well to applying SPF, how you live your life on a daily basis makes a real impact on how you age.
Regardless, aging is inevitable, and sooner or later it is likely that everyone will develop loose skin, frown lines, and wrinkles at some stage in their life. Luckily, cosmetic procedures like a facelift or Botox injections are available to help reduce signs of aging for those who would like to increase the elasticity of their skin at any age. Thanks to speedy advancements in the medical world, almost all signs of aging have a treatment that can help slow it down. Using high-quality skincare products is one of the best ways to prevent aging. A protocol moisturizer can improve the look and feel of skin, making you look younger. Moisturizers can play a key role in holding back the hands of time, especially if you are out in the sun on a regular basis.
There’s also compelling research that indicates one day, klotho therapy may be used to slow signs of aging, including damage to the skin. Klotho proteins are naturally occurring in humans and involved in many vital biological processes. They appear to have major effects throughout a human’s lifespan. Premature signs of aging have been associated with a lack of klotho proteins. Hopefully, advances in klotho therapy will one day provide the ability to lessen some of the common risks associated with aging.
Until then, it is wise to follow some of the habits that have been proven to help prevent aging-like wearing sunscreen.
What SPF Products Can Actually Help Prevent Aging?
Not all products that claim to offer sun protection can properly shield you from damaging rays that cause premature aging.
Sunscreens can protect from three different types of damage: sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging. Different rays cause different types of damage. For the most part, UVA rays (which penetrate quite deeply) and UVB (surface-burning only) rays can both cause skin damage. However, UVA rays are more likely to cause premature aging while UVB rays cause sunburn. It is crucially important to protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays.
What SPF Should I Be Using?
To prevent aging by the sun, you should choose a “broad spectrum” product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Anything with an SPF lower than 30 will not offer proper protection. You should be especially wary of products with an SPF lower than 15, as they will not protect you from skin cancer or aging prematurely.
Do I Need to Wear Sunscreen When It Is Not Sunny?
Absolutely. Clouds do little to prevent damaging rays (UVA and UVB) from harming your skin. At best, cloud cover will only filter out about a quarter of ultraviolet rays, leaving the rest to cause premature aging, sunburn and skin cancer.
Protect yourself by applying a broad spectrum SPF of 30 or higher to your face and body, no matter what.
How Often Do I Need to Reapply Sunscreen?
If you are in the sun, you need to continue reapplying sunscreen regularly. If you sweat or get wet, you should reapply more often.
Keeping your skin healthy now can go a long way in preventing age-related skin damage in the future. To do this, stay informed about anti-aging research such as klotho therapy and be sure to apply sunscreen everyday.
