By Erin Hagan
As August ushers in the hottest part of the summer season, more people than ever are actively seeking to protect their skin from damage under the sun’s rays. Social media is playing a significant role in this increased interest in sun protection products and practices.
Now that it’s Summer Sun Safety Month, it is a great opportunity for distributors and business owners to learn about the latest trends that are influencing the marketplace and driving consumer demand.
Dynarex offers a full line of premium Sun Protection and Personal Care Products
to keep businesses fully stocked during the hot summer months.
Sun Protection Basics
Many of us are now aware that sun protection plays a crucial role in safeguarding the skin, and dermatologists recommend the use of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Without proper protection, exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to major skin damage, including an increased risk of skin cancer.
Social Media in the Spotlight
Since the beginning of the pandemic, young adults, especially those in Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), have been paying closer attention to social media influencers to learn about their health and overall wellness. This is especially true when it comes to skin care and sun protection practices.
As a result, many are eagerly adopting sun protection and skin health formulas into their routines. A recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology appears to reflect this trend, with 82% of respondents reporting that protecting their skin from the sun is more important to them now than it was five years ago.
Sun Care = Beauty Care
The topic of skin care has become so popular on social media that a new word was coined for these content providers — “skinfluencers”. Skinfluencers use social media platforms—especially TikTok—to post short videos of multi-step skin care routines and easy-to-follow makeup tutorials that also highlight the benefits of sun protection to their followers.
Many skinfluencers come from skincare or beauty-industry backgrounds, and have been motivating their followers by educating them about the negative affects unprotected sun exposure can have on their skin’s appearance, including:
- Brown Spots: Often referred to as age spots, these are not actually related to age. Rather, they are caused by prolonged sun exposure. These spots are the skin’s attempt to protect itself from further sun damage.
- Wrinkles: More than 90% of wrinkles are associated with sun damage. Sun exposure and UV radiation can destroy collagen and elastin, which are proteins that keep your skin supple and firm.
- Damage to Blood Vessels: Exposure to the sun can cause the blood vessels around the nose and cheeks to become enlarged. In addition, the elastin fibers in this area can break down, making those spidery veins stand out even more.
This type of information, combined with basic awareness of the overall health risks of unprotected sun exposure, is helping to drive increased interest in effective sun protection.
The Rising Sun Care Industry
In this digital age, the combination of skinfluencers and healthcare experts on social media is transforming the sun-care industry, which is expected to reach $19.65 billion by 2030. Summer Sun Safety Month presents an opportunity to stock up on sun care products, take advantage of the trends, and meet the needs of consumers who are becoming more conscious of their skin care and overall health.