Despite the skin being at higher risk during the summer months, or when you’re on holiday in the sun, the risk of skin damage is a concern throughout the year, so it’s important to use SPF daily.
Sun cream or SPF should be an important part of your daily skincare routine, even during winter, because ultraviolet radiation is present all year round.
What is UV radiation?
UV radiation is released by the sun, but it is invisible. It can also radiate from artificial sources, including tanning beds. UV radiation does have some benefits, including creating vitamin D, but it can also cause health risks, including skin ageing and skin cancer.
There are three types of UV, these are UVA, UVB and UVC. Ultraviolet A can penetrate deep into the skin, causing skin ageing, and Ultraviolet B can cause sunburn and skin cancer.
Ultraviolet C is the most dangerous type of radiation, but this does not normally get through the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is Photoaging?
Photoaging, which can be caused by UVA damage, is a term to describe the signs of ageing that gradually develop. This includes pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin and so on. Due to exposure, our cells are damaged by UV radiation. The skin will try to repair itself, but it usually appears uneven and lacks collagen, which is what gives skin elasticity. This causes the skin to appear aged. Photoaging is an inevitable process, but it can be seen earlier if people don’t use sun cream and SPF.
Should you wear SPF every day?
In short, yes. As mentioned above, UV damage is possible at any time of year. Years of sun damage can make us look much older than we are, but if you use sun cream every day, then you can prevent signs of visible damage appearing in the future. If you don’t want to wear a sun cream with SPF-30 in it all year round, there are alternatives, such as SPF moisturizers. However, it is important to note that SPF moisturizers are not as good as regular sun cream.
Dermatologists will usually recommend using a separate moisturizer and sun cream but using a moisturizer with SPF is a better alternative to zero sun cream.
What SPF is good for daily use?
There are lots of different options to choose from if you are wanting to invest in an SPF moisturizer. These can vary in price, so it’s always good to do some research. It is normally recommended that you use an SPF product with an SPF-30 minimum. Some moisturizers with SPF can be as low as SPF-15, which does provide some protection, but not enough. You can use Profhilo Haenkenium Cream, which is an antioxidant cream that can be used to treat excessive UV exposure and hyperpigmentation. Other popular SPF moisturizers include Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate SPF50 and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF30. You can view all of our products, here.
