May is Skin Cancer Awareness month and I cannot let it pass without sharing with you the importance of sunscreen. The key to youthful-looking and healthy, cancer-free skin is to apply sunscreen every single day. 

Apply sunscreen every morning 30 minutes before exposure and reapply every two hours.

I don’t care if you live in Mexico or Alaska, whether it’s the depths of winter or the peak of summer, whether you’re 22 or 65, blue-eyed or brown-eyed, whether you spend all your time outside or work in a cave; you need to hear this. The key to long-lasting, youthful-looking skin is to apply sunscreen every single day. No matter what you read online, there is no other secret hack or potion that will protect your skin from aging, I guarantee it. 

If you already habitually apply sunscreen every morning after cleansing and before doing your makeup, I applaud you. To tell you the truth, you will probably never notice a difference in your skin from wearing sunscreen every day. As I’m sure you know, people have a hard time committing to tasks that don’t produce tangible results. But tell me, would you notice a difference in your teeth if you wore your retainer every night? No! Your teeth would stay as perfect and straight as they were on the day you got your braces removed! Change is what we want to avoid in these cases!! The purpose of sunscreen is to MAINTAIN and PROTECT. If you apply SPF to your face every day you are actively protecting yourself from fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and most importantly, skin cancer. This is why it’s important to lather yourself (and your loved ones) up every day. It’s more than just aesthetic, people. 

Okay, now for the specific details. Really any sunscreen will do the trick as long as you’re using SPF 30 or more. However, some sunscreens may work better for you depending on your skin texture and preferences. For example, you may want a sunscreen that is specialized for dry or oily skin, or you may prefer a tinted or untinted product. At The Skin Company, we carry a variety of brands of sunscreen so that every client has access to the type of protection that is most suitable for them. Call or text The Skin Company today to schedule a free consultation where I will work with you to find the best sunscreen for your skin type. I promise you, applying sunscreen is a practice that will pay off substantially for years to come. 

Learn more about the world’s most common cancer and get involved in Skin Cancer Awareness month by visiting the Skin Cancer Foundation.