Sunscreen… YEAR ROUND?

Summer comes and all the stores start putting out their best sunscreen displays. But now summer is gone and so are the displays. So should you keep wearing sunscreen or tuck it away for next year? Hmm.

Your Question… Answered!

You can’t see UV—UVA and UVB— rays, but they are there all year round. Excessive exposure to these rays can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. UVA and UVB rays come from the sun and cause damage to our skin by radiation causing mutations in the DNA of skin cells. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin and cause your skin cells to age ahead of their time. UVB rays cause sunburn and potentially skin cancer. Find a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect against both.

So, when should you wear sunscreen? Every single day. Even when it’s fall or winter. Or when it’s cloudy as up to 80% of the sun’s harmful rays can still penetrate your skin. Apply enough to cover the skin and apply 15 minutes before you go outside. If outside in the sun for a long period of time, reapply every 2 hours or after sweating.

Take care of your skin and you will continue to look young and vibrant!

References

Hughes MC, Williams GC, Baker P, Green AC; “Sunscreen and Prevention of Skin Aging, a Randomized Trial”. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2013; 158(11):781-790

Global Solar UV Index. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/uv/publications/en/UVIGuide.pdf

Why you should wear sunscreen all year round: Dermatologist dr. Hiva Fassihi explains: The skin edit. LaRoche. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/why-you-should-wear-sunscreen-all-year-round-dermatologist-dr-hiva-fassihi-explains.html.