Whether you are tanning at the beach, taking your dog on a walk, or just going outside for a few minutes, sunscreen should be used in order to protect your skin. 

Most people only use sunscreen when they go to the beach or before a long day in the sun, but the sun can cause lasting damage on your skin, even on a cloudy day. 

According to Cancer.org, sun damage is caused by UV radiation, and when the UV rays go through the clouds, they cause a sunburn which then results in skin damage. Sunscreen should be applied everyday, because the sun’s rays can withstand most surfaces.

The science behind sunscreen is pretty simple, sunscreen contains chemicals that either absorb or reflect sunlight, keeping it away from hitting your skin directly. If your skin is not protected by sunscreen or a physical barrier, sunburns occur. 

When skin gets sunburnt, sometimes the skin can not handle the amount of sun exposure and this causes those skin cells to die, according to MD Anderson. 

This usually results in minor damages that are permanent such as wrinkles, dark spots, and freckles. Also, UV radiation increases your risk of three types of cancer: melanoma, basal-cell carcinoma, and squamous-cell carcinoma because when skin cells die, they develop into mutations.

According to a study by the Skin Cancer Foundation, “On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns.” 

Avoiding sunscreen use in your youth is vital to keeping your skin healthy, and prevents irreversible skin damage that could occur in the future. 

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and wearing sunscreen everyday can help you prevent it. 

In order to make sure the sunscreen is effective, it has to be applied regularly and correctly. According to the CDC, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, or after each session of swimming. It is also recommended that you use a SPF of 15 or higher for best results. While waterproof sunscreens are available, there is still a possibility that it can come off after swimming or sweating. 

This summer, and every season after that, you should make sunscreen application a part of your daily routine in order to protect your skin. The lasting effects of skin damage are far worse than simply adding one extra step in your skincare routine, that just might save your life.