Why It's So Important to Use Sunscreen
In this first post, I will talk about the affects of not using sunscreen. The immediate danger of too much sun is sunburn. If you looked at sunburned skin under a strong microscope, you would see that the cells and blood vessels have been damaged. With repeated sun damage, the skin starts to look dry, wrinkled, discolored, and leathery. Although the skin appears to be thicker, it actually has been weakened and, as a result, it will bruise more easily. However, the sun's most serious threat is that it is the major cause of skin cancer, which is now the most common of all cancers. Doctors believe that most skin cancers can be avoided by wearing sunscreen.

Major Technological Effects
A major technology that has effected this issue even further are tanning beds. Today, around one million people in the U.S use tanning beds.Two types of radiations are produced from the tanning bed - UVA (long-wave) and UVB (short-wave). The UVA rays penetrate the skin and will not cause skin burns. The UVB rays, also known as "burning rays", affect the surface of the skin. These radiations can sometimes stimulate the production of vitamin D, which is an essential vitamin. It can even reduce the risk of muscle weakness and fractures. Many health risks are associated with the use of tanning beds. Over exposure to UV radiations can damage the skin cells and alter the structure of the DNA. This can potentially lead to cancer, including the deadly melanoma. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, regular use of tanning beds tends to increase the risk of developing melanoma by 55 percent. The threat is more in women, especially between the ages of 20 and 29. Various other skin problems can also occur. The skin can become thick and leathery, which results in wrinkles and premature aging.

New Approaches
Some approaches to increase the use of sunscreen are by making easy to use bottles. Many companies are making easy to use spray bottles wear you don't need the fuss of rubbing in sunscreen. It has become fast and simple and fun for children to use. Makers have also been making higher SPFs to reduce the chance of skin damage or skin cancer even more. Lastly, there have been endless amounts of campaigns explaining how dangerous not protecting your skin really is. I think statistics alone have scared people enough to the point where they all are starting to put on sunscreen.

Technological Fix
Another fix that has reduced the the problem of exposing skin to sun is spray tans. Sunless tanning products, also called self-tanners, can give your skin a tanned look without exposing it to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunless tanning products are commonly sold as creams, gels, lotions and sprays you apply to your skin. Professional spray-on tanning also is available at many salons, spas and tanning businesses. The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When applied to the skin, DHA reacts with dead cells in the outermost layer of skin to temporarily darken the skin's appearance. The coloring doesn't wash off, but it gradually fades as the dead skin cells slough off — typically within a few days. Theres even some spray tans that can better your skin since some of them are also loaded with aloe and hydrate your skin to make it less dry.

Here is a website that explains how harmful the sun is and what can happen if we don't protect it:
http://www.olay.com/skin-care/SkinCancerAreYouAtRiskOlay.aspx