Why Everyone in Illinois Should Be Wearing SPF Every Day

I'll admit it... I used to be terrible about wearing sunscreen unless I was spending the entire day at the beach or pool. That changed after my vacation to Florida.

Seeing just how intense the sun was down there made me start wearing SPF every single day, and I've stuck with it ever since I got back home to Illinois. The craziest part? My skin has cleared up almost 100%!

I honestly wasn't expecting sunscreen to make much of a difference, but taking better care of my skin has completely changed how it looks and feels. It's smoother, healthier, glowing, and I've noticed all my acne scars have basically healed. Sometimes the smallest daily habits end up making the biggest difference.

Now that we're dealing with these random Illinois heat waves, it's a good reminder that the sun here is no joke either. Just because we aren't in Florida or somewhere closer to the equator doesn't mean we're protected from harmful UV rays.

Illinois regularly seeing high UV indexes during the summer and even cloudy days can expose your skin to damaging ultraviolet radiation.

Why Wearing SPF in Illinois Is More Important Than You Think

Health experts recommend wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day:

to help prevent painful sunburns
lower your risk of skin cancer
reduce premature signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots

It's also worth mentioning that UV rays don't disappear in the winter. Snow and even water can reflect sunlight, increasing your exposure without you realizing it.

If you're like I was and only reach for sunscreen on vacation, this is your sign to make it part of your daily routine instead. It takes less than a minute to apply, and if my experience is any indication, your skin might thank you for it. I never thought wearing SPF every day would make such a noticeable difference, but now it's one habit I don't plan on giving up.

Read more about how to protect yourself this summer on the Illinois.gov website!