Do you hate sunscreen? Do you often forget to apply sunscreen, even on the days when you don’t think you’ll be outside that much?

Getting a sunburn is something most have dealt with at some point in their life. It’s not fun. Getting a healthy dose of sun and Vitamin D is important to your health. It’s proven to help strengthen muscles, stop respiratory infections, and boost bone mass. The recommended sunscreen-free exposure depends on your individual skin tone, but on average it’s about 15 to 30 minutes, a few times a week. And that’s it! After that amount of time it is critical to apply your sunscreen.

We all know the risks of sun exposure…a sunburn! But the consequences of a sunburn can be more severe and long term. Many assume the wrinkles, dark spots and other characteristics of unhealthy skin are the product of aging. Unfortunately the main cause of unhealthy skin is the damaging effects of sun exposure over a number of years. Accelerated aging of the skin and even skin cancer are common risks of frequent unprotected exposure to the sun.

Did you know your skin is your largest organ of your body? Let’s take care of it and protect it daily. Start with wearing a medical grade sunscreen DAILY. Medical grade sunscreens will sit on your skin, not seep in, to help prevent absorption of unwanted chemicals found in other drug-store purchased chemical sunscreens. Look for a sunscreen that contains at least 2-3% zinc oxide. Using a medical grade sunscreen WITH a built-in daily moisturizer is a great way to help you remember to apply it every day.

Even a simple, moderately severe sunburn has shown to damage blood vessels extensively. How extensively? Studies have shown that it can take four to fifteen months for them to return to their normal condition. Consider that the next time you’re feeling too lazy to apply sunscreen before heading outside.

Let Dr. Jensen’s staff help you pick out a medical grade sunscreen perfect for your skin type so you can expose yourself properly to the sun. Prevent accelerated skin damage by protecting yourself daily. 

Check out this video “How the Sun Sees You” to see how beneficial sunscreen is during sun exposure.