The best skins are using SPF skincare
Adding SPF in your skincare is vital for help reduce the effects of UV damage to the skin which contributes to premature ageing of the skin.
UV light and skin damage
As you probably know, the sun produces two kinds of rays; UVA and UVB. Both can damage your skin, causing anything from premature ageing to skin cancer. Sunscreen and SPF skincare products are designed to protect your skin from the damage that the sun can cause. When you are choosing SPF skincare it is good to get an idea of the different type of UV rays and the effects that it has on your skin so that you can find the best products for your skin.
Computer generated image from Dermaquest UK, showing sun damage on cells without SPF.
What are UVA rays?
UVA rays are the ones that are present all year around. These rays are strong enough to penetrate clothing or glass. They used to be considered safe for use by the beauty industry in tanning beds, but now we know that using sun beds are a bad idea – statistics have shown that using tanning beds before the age of 30 can increase your risk of skin cancer by 75 per cent*. Stick to the spray tans, ladies…
UVA rays penetrate much deeper into your skin, damaging the skin cells underneath. Far from a tan making your skin healthy, every time you get a natural tan you create irreversible skin damage. This damage starts to appear ten or even twenty years afterwards, in wrinkles, dark spots, and rough, leathery skin.
What are UVB rays?
It’s UVB light that gives you sunburn. UVB is stronger in summertime and of course on sunny holidays. This also means skiing and snowy holidays as the rays can reflect off water and snow. UVB causes most skin cancers, although UVA can contribute to cancer. They are at their strongest at midday so always protect yourself if you go out in the sunshine, with sunglasses, a hat and good quality SPF skincare.
How to protect your skin with UV skincare
Look for a good quality sunscreen with a high enough SPF (sun protection filter) for your needs.
Sunscreen protects your skin against the damage UV rays cause, using physical chemical barriers which absorb and reflect the harmful UV light. When you apply sunscreen, it forms a very thin protective barrier on the surface of your skin which works to absorb the radiation before it can penetrate your skin and cause any damage.
Make sure that your sun protection filters UVA as well as UVB light. The phrase to look for is ‘broad spectrum coverage’ if you’re not sure. If your moisturiser or foundation contains an SPF that’s even better, but don’t skimp on the sunscreen just because you’ve put SPF skincare on your face. Double up if necessary, using a product suitable for your face, as many everyday moisturisers won’t have a high enough SPF to protect you on sunny days.
When you’re out in the sunshine, use a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 – preferably higher – but don’t assume that you can get away with only applying it once. Don’t be mean with the amount you use either, it’s estimated that you need roughly a shot glass of sunscreen for a full body application (excluding your face). Don’t forget to protect the tops of your ears, neck, chest, hands, and feet.
For advice on UV skincare products, get in touch!
*Source: From ‘Dying for a Tan’ article (IARC 2007). Dermatological Nursing 2015, Vol.14, No.1
