Know why your lips need sun protection

We know the importance of sunscreen as it protects us from harmful UV rays, sunburns and other potential damages to our skin.  That’s why we tend to apply it on our face on regular basis.  No matter how much we apply sunscreen to our skin, there is still one vital spot we are missing.  We tend to take lips for granted and deprive it from sunscreen. 

Many of us don’t know the fact that the skin of our lips is thinner and contains less melanin, which means it can’t protect itself from harmful sun damage, so it needs extra care.

Dermatologists are of the opinion that using lip sunscreen which filters out harmful UVB rays gives you protection from cancer and in addition provides much needed sunburn protection. 

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Elizabeth Tanzi, founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care in US, was quoted saying  to a journal, “The foremost area of the body people tend to skimp on sunscreen is, surprisingly, the lips. People forget to protect their lips. Skin cancer in this area can be particularly dangerous, which is why everyone needs lip balm with SPF.”

Experts are of the view that using an SPF lip balm regularly helps protect your lips from sunburn, harmful cancer-causing radiation, and prevent some of those sun-exposure lip wrinkles. 

Many sunscreen balms tout SPF 15 and some even go up to SPF 30. The difference is that SPF 15 filters out around 93 per cent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 filters out about 97 per cent, according to the American Cancer Society. If you are going to be out in full sun, like on the beach or poolside, opt for the higher SPF.

As you got to know the advantages of applying sunscreen on lips, you can help friends and family do the same.