One cannot stress enough the importance of wearing sunscreen in summer and with a summer like Malta’s, sunscreen is not only essential but crucial. In an attempt to help you avoid sunburn, damage and potentially-worse complications, here are 5 reasons why you should ALWAYS wear sunscreen.

Lowers risk of skin cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world, and most common in the United States. In 2013, 71,943 people were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin, with 9,394 of the cases being fatal. Applying sunscreen each and every day reduces risk of contracting skin cancer by half.

Prevents premature skin ageing

The sun’s UV rays damage the skin and cause photo-ageing, which causes the skin to develop a thick, leathery look; discolouration and a breakdown of collagen which ultimately leads to wrinkles, lines and sagging. Studies show that individuals aged below 55 who do not regularly protect themselves from the suns rays have a 24% less chance of developing signs of ageing.

Helps maintain skin tones

The key to glowing skin tone is regular protection from the sun and sunscreen helps prevent discolouration and dark spots caused by damaged skin. This will ultimately allow you to have smoother skin and a glowing skin tone.

Prevents skin from UV rays

The ever-changing climate crisis and depletion of the ozone layer have increased the risk of sun damage and exposure to harmful UV rays. With Malta’s summer being as powerful as it is, sunscreen allows you to block the rays, reduce the likelihood of sunburn and save yourself the post-bathe burns.

Chances of skin cancer is higher if hair is red

Something you may have not known is that scientists recently discovered that the MC1R gene mutation which contributes to the development of red hair and fair skin also creates a cancer-causing pathway. When exposed to UV radiation, this pathway promotes a genetic propensity towards cancer.

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