The Importance of Sunscreen: How to Protect Your Skin & Choose Safer Options

As the summer heats up, many of us are spending more time outside and in the sun. Whether you're heading to the beach, taking a long walk, or enjoying a weekend outdoors with family and friends, sun exposure is often part of the season.

While spending time outside offers many benefits for our physical and mental well-being, it's important to remember that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can have lasting effects on skin health. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and excessive UV exposure remains one of the leading risk factors. The good news? One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your skin is by wearing sunscreen consistently.

The Role of Sunscreen in Skin Cancer Prevention

Understanding Skin Cancer

Skin cancer occurs when skin cells grow uncontrollably due to DNA damage, often caused by UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. The three main types of skin cancer include:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common form of skin cancer. It often appears as a shiny bump, nodule, or sore that doesn't heal.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): A more aggressive form that may present as a scaly patch, wart-like growth, or open sore.
• Melanoma: The most serious type of skin cancer. Melanoma can spread quickly if not detected early and often appears as a mole that changes in size, shape, or color.

How Sunscreen Helps Protect Your Skin

Sunscreen acts as a critical line of defense against harmful UV radiation and offers benefits beyond skin cancer prevention.

• Blocks Harmful UV Rays: Sunscreen helps absorb, scatter, or reflect UV rays before they can penetrate and damage the skin.
• Prevents DNA Damage: Reducing UV exposure helps prevent the cellular damage that can contribute to skin cancer development.
• Supports Healthy Aging: Daily sunscreen use can help minimize signs of photoaging, including wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and loss of skin elasticity.

How to Choose a Non-Toxic Sunscreen

As awareness grows around ingredient safety and environmental impact, many people are looking for cleaner sunscreen options. While sunscreen remains an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, understanding what ingredients are inside your products can help you make more informed choices.

Ingredients to Avoid

When shopping for sunscreen, consider limiting products that contain:

• Oxybenzone and Octinoxate: Chemical UV filters that have raised concerns related to hormone disruption and environmental impact, particularly on coral reefs.
• Retinyl Palmitate: A form of vitamin A that some research suggests may increase skin sensitivity when exposed to sunlight.
• Parabens: Preservatives that may interfere with normal hormone function.

Ingredients to Look For

Many dermatologists and integrative health practitioners recommend mineral-based sunscreens because they sit on top of the skin and physically block UV rays.

• Zinc Oxide: Provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays and is considered one of the most effective sunscreen ingredients available.
• Titanium Dioxide: Another mineral UV filter that helps protect against sun damage.
• Non-Nano Formulations: Non-nano mineral particles are larger in size and are generally preferred by consumers looking to minimize systemic absorption concerns.
• Skin-Supportive Ingredients: Aloe vera, green tea extract, shea butter, and coconut oil can help soothe and nourish the skin while providing additional antioxidant support.

Additional Tips for Choosing Sunscreen

When evaluating sunscreen products, look for:

• Broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays
• SPF 30 or higher for daily use
• Water-resistant formulas if swimming or exercising outdoors
• Fragrance-free options for sensitive skin
• Mineral-based formulations whenever possible

Are You Applying Enough Sunscreen?

Even the best sunscreen won't provide adequate protection if it's not applied correctly.

One of the most common mistakes people make is simply not using enough sunscreen. Most adults need approximately one ounce, or about 2 tablespoons, of sunscreen to adequately protect the entire body.

For optimal protection:

• Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside
• Reapply every two hours when outdoors
• Reapply immediately after swimming, sweating, or towel drying
• Don't forget commonly missed areas such as the ears, scalp, lips, tops of the feet, and back of the neck

It's also important to remember that sunscreen should be part of a broader sun protection strategy. Seeking shade during peak UV hours, wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, and wide-brimmed hats can further reduce UV exposure and help protect long-term skin health. Check out some of our favorite summer essentials here.

A Helpful Resource for Finding Safer Sunscreens

If you're unsure where to start, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a valuable resource for researching sunscreen ingredients and finding products that meet higher safety standards.

The EWG's annual sunscreen guide reviews hundreds of products and highlights options that provide effective UV protection while avoiding ingredients of concern. Their list of EWG-verified moisturizers with SPF is a great place to begin your search for cleaner daily sun protection. While no sunscreen is perfect, resources like EWG can help consumers make more informed decisions about the products they use every day.

The Lanby's Favorite Non-Toxic Sunscreen Brands

• Babo Botanicals: Trusted for its gentle, thoughtfully formulated ingredients, Babo Botanicals offers mineral-based sun protection that works well for sensitive skin, children, and adults alike.
• Sqween: Sqween is a clean, kid-friendly mineral sunscreen designed with independence in mind. Its easy, mess-free application makes it simple for children to apply sunscreen themselves while still receiving effective broad-spectrum protection.

The Bottom Line

Protecting your skin from harmful UV exposure is one of the simplest investments you can make in your long-term health. Daily sunscreen use can help reduce the risk of skin cancer, support healthy aging, and protect your skin from cumulative sun damage over time.

When choosing a sunscreen, prioritize broad-spectrum protection, mineral-based ingredients like zinc oxide, and products that align with your personal health and environmental values. Most importantly, make sunscreen a daily habit, not just a beach-day essential.

Your future skin will thank you.

Follow along on The Lanby blog for more science-backed wellness tips, seasonal recommendations, and practical ways to help you get well, better.