If it isn’t already obvious by now, sun protection is essential to prevent skin cancer, and to slow down the signs of ageing. But, there’s one part of the face you’re not protecting when you should be—your lips.
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Just like the rest of our body, our lips are sensitive to UV rays as well. While you’re busy lathering heaps of sunscreen on your face and body, don’t neglect your lips.
Shield your lips from the sun
Sun exposure can destroy the collagen in your lips, making the skin even thinner, and consequently more sensitive. SPF has the power to protect your lips from the dangers of the sun, and it will slow down the ageing process. Unfortunately, only a minority of people make an active effort to put SPF on their lips. Making the rest vulnerable to dangerous diseases, like skin cancer. Dermatologist, Dr. Melanie Palm told Good Housekeeping:
We get very concerned that cancers [on the lips] can be more aggressive in nature because they can spread more easily through these conduits to other areas of the body.
So, how do you defend your lips from the sun? The same way you protect the rest of your body!
SPF for the lips
Get yourself a lip product that has at least SPF 15. Carry it with you everywhere you go, and reapply consistently throughout the day. Dr. Mehmet Oz suggests that you look for a product that fights against both UVA and UVB rays. He said:
When using any sunscreen product, look for broad-spectrum coverage, meaning the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply it about 30 minutes before you go outside in the sun. Take your lip balm with you and reapply it every two hours or more often if you are swimming.
There are many great SPF lip balms on the market, but the Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect remains unmatched. It is an inexpensive, dermatologist-recommended product that offers SPF 30. So, what are you waiting for? Get yours today!
