Common in people over the age of 40, but rare in those with black skin and in children, skin cancer is the most frequent cancer in Brazil. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), it accounts for 31.3% of all cases diagnosed in the country. According to experts, the disease has become increasingly widespread among young people, due to the constant exposure of the little ones to the sun’s rays. Burns, spots and photoaging are also some of the problems associated with carelessness with the body. One way to protect and maintain skin health is with continued use of sunscreen.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a cumulative effect and the sun’s rays penetrate deeply into the skin, but sunscreens can prevent the damage caused by this exposure. The ideal protector should have good UVA and UVB protection, as well as being water resistant and not staining clothes. On the market it is possible to find the product in different formats: gel, cream, lotion, spray or stick. But besides the presentation, you need to pay attention to the sun protection factor (SPF). Lighter skinned people should use sunscreens with at least SPF 30.
Ideally, people should look for the products that best suit their skin. Few people know it, but it is also possible to manipulate sunscreen formulas to adapt them to the particularities of each one. “The manipulated products bring in their formulation components suitable for each patient,” says Flávia Ribeiro, pharmacist and founding partner of Quality Farmácia de Manipulação. “If the person has oily, acne-prone skin, it is possible, for example, to formulate an oil-free product that feels dry and won’t clog pores.”
Flávia reiterates that it is essential that people go to dermatologists regularly to check the health of their skin from time to time. “In addition to the continuous use of sunscreen, medical monitoring is necessary, especially in cases of the appearance of spots and moles,” he concludes.
