Summer care 101

Do you have sunscreen in your daily routine?

Do you wear sunscreen every day without a break?

Did you know sunscreen is essential to your skin’s health and appearance?

Well, as simple as it is, sunscreen protects your skin from the sun and its rays,

consequently protecting the skin from all the damage sun rays bring.

But let us start with the basics and help you understand sunscreen's importance in the daily skincare routine.

What causes the damage?

Sun exposes three main types of UV (ultraviolet) rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC, which affect the skin differently.

1)

UVA rays are the majority of all UV rays that reach the Earth’s surface and can penetrate the skin on a deep level.

UVA rays also easily penetrate glass and clouds, so it is important to wear sunscreen even during a cloudy day or indoors.

UVA rays cause skin tanning, hyperpigmentation, and premature skin aging by causing oxidation and generating free radicals.

2)

On the other hand, UVB rays mostly affect the skin's surface and makeup only 5% of all UV rays reaching the Earth.

However, despite that, they cause the most damage - cell damage, sunburn, DNA mutation, and increased risk of skin cancer.

3)

UVC rays are the shortest and never reach the Earth due to the ozone layer that protects it.

So why do we need sunscreen?

If you are still not sure about why you need to wear sunscreen daily, here are a few reasons for you :

1) Sun protection helps to prevent premature aging. 

Constant sun exposure reduces collagen and elastin production, which leads to appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Apart from that, natural collagen production is also reduced by free radicals, which cause oxidation.

2) SPF helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation and dark spots are caused by increased melanin production, which is triggered by constant sun exposure.

Even on cloudy days, it is essential to wear sun protection due to UV ray exposure.

3) Sun protection reduces the risk of inflammations and irritations.

Overexposure to sun rays can lead to sunburns, rosacea, irritations, and other skin conditions. As was written above,

UVA and UVB rays are the main sources of sunburns and irritations, so sun protection is essential to block them.

What should you know?

While choosing sun protection, always pay attention to SPF and PA values.

SPF - Sun Protection Factor - shows how well the product can protect the skin from UVB rays.

The higher the SPF value, the more UVB rays are blocked.

PA - Protection Grade of UVA - shows how well sun cream protects you from the effect of UVA rays. 

Apart from that, it is important to cover your body with a parasol, a hat, or UV protective

clothing, as well as apply a generous amount of sunscreen onto your face and body and reapply it regularly.

Sun care during different weather/seasons

The most popular sun care myth is “You only need to wear sunscreen during spring and summer when the sun is at its peak,”

when we are constantly exposed to sun rays danger each season.

However, if you want to keep your skin healthy and youthful, winter days or cloudy days are when you must apply your sunscreen.  

UV rays can still penetrate the clouds even on a cloudy day, causing skin damage,

and affect the skin during winter, reflecting from surfaces and snow.

If you are still wondering, sun protection must be applied all year round to prevent any damage and unpleasant experience.