Sun cream is a must have in your beach bag during the summer months. However, experts have explained why wearing SPF is not only crucial in the sunny weather, but all year round - even when indoors.
Regularly applying sun cream to your skin reduces overall exposure to ultra violet (UV) rays, which lowers your risk of skin cancer and sun damage. But even when the sun is not shining, you are still at risk of exposing your skin to UV light.
Skin Experts at Dermalogica have warned against the risks of not wearing sun cream and have stressed the importance of wearing it everyday. They warn that just 30 minutes of sun exposure without SPF undoes approximately a month of treating pigmentation or sun spots.
Victoria Evans, Education Manager at Dermalogica says: “When it comes to the impact of UV rays on the skin, ultraviolet radiation is at the top of the list for causing skin damage, premature ageing and uneven skin tone. Any unprotected sun exposure will trigger melanogenesis and thus undo any progress of SPF.
“Whilst your skin can repair some of this damage, the damage accumulates over the years resulting in premature ageing. Lines, wrinkles, and dark spots become evident and in the worst-case scenario, this damage may lead to skin cancer development.”
The strength of sun cream's protection is measure in SPF - sun protection factor. The SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen.
So, if you wear a sun cream with SPF 30, your skin is 30 times more protected against sun exposure. Here are five tips to protect your skin all your round, even in bad weather.
Top Tips to Protect your Skin
1. Include SPF30 or SPF50 in your daily regime
Experts and Dermalogica recommend that SPF30 or 50 should be applied to your face every day
2. Everyone should wear SPF
Regardless of your skin type, skin tone or age, wearing SPF everyday is a necessity
3. Remember the importance of SPF all year round
Rather than thinking about protecting your skin from the sun during the summer months or on beach holidays, consider the fact that we are exposed to harmful UV rays all year round – yes, even in the winter.
4. Keep protected even indoors
UVA and UVB rays are present during daylight hours, and both penetrate the skin triggering damage. UVA is a long ray that penetrates deeper into the skin but without you noticing. UVA rays are known as the ‘ageing ray’ as they cause deep damage to skin cells and structural proteins like collagen.
UVA rays are present at the same strength from dusk till dawn all year-round and can penetrate windows and glass. Therefore, whether you are sitting in a car, at home or in the office, make sure you wear SPF wherever you are!
5. Look for a broad spectrum SPF
UVB rays are often nicknamed the ‘burning ray’ ; they are at their strongest in the summer months and when the sun is highest in the sky, typically between 11:00 and 3:00. This ray is short and intense, meaning you feel its effects on your skin. You can often feel your skin burning!
Look for a ‘broad-spectrum’ SPF that defends against both UVB and UVA rays.
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