You go to the beach on a blazing hot day but you apply sunscreen multiple times to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Does sunscreen really work? How does sunscreen protect your skin from the harms of the sun?

Ultraviolet radiation is a common cause of skin cancer, and a form of radiation that is emitted from the sun. We use sunscreen with SPF to protect against these rays with hopes of preventing cancer. According to Yale Scientific Magazine, the SPF is an indicator of how long the screen will protect the skin before the skin will be harmed(Isguven). 

The Skin Cancer Foundation shows through research, that our bodies need protection from both types of UV rays, UVA and UVB; Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen helps to protect against both forms of radiation(Epstein). Now that I understood more about how sunscreen protects and what it protects us from, I wanted to know how well it protects.

In a recent study in the UK, scientists have found that sunscreen does not completely protect us from the sun’s harmful rays. “The scientists found that sunscreen could not stop solar radiation causing a mutation in the skin’s ‘guardian gene’ which produces proteins that protect against UV”(Spencer). I would definitely agree with this because there is no way to shield ourselves from the radiation, other than completely not exposing ourselves to it. It makes sense that sunscreen doesn’t completely protect us, because if it did then no one would have skin cancer. It is interesting and important to know that sunscreen does help to slow the process of cancer.

I now know how important it is to protect myself as much as possible from the harms of the sun. Though it’s not possible to completely avoid the sun’s harmful rays and prevent cancer, we can try our best to limit the risks by covering up as much as possible, limiting our time in the sun, and reapplying when necessary. We might not know what causes the cancer, but we are more aware of ways to lower our risks.

Works Cited

1. Epstein, John H., MD, and Stephen Q. Wang, MD. “Skin Cancer Foundation.” Understanding UVA and UVB. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
2. Isguven, Selin. “How Does Sunscreen Protect You?” Yale Scientific Magazine. N.p., 9 May 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
3. Spencer, Ben. “Wearing Sunscreen May NOT Prevent Skin Cancer, Study Claims.” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 12 June 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.