Why you should wear sunscreen all year

Sunscreen is essential for protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. It is a must-have for our daily skincare routine. After all, by blocking and absorbing UV rays, it protects our skin from sunburn, minimises suntan, and sun damage. However, the majority of people still believe that sunscreen should only be worn in the summer because the sun is mostly hidden during the winter and monsoon seasons. The sun’s deceptive nature, when it appears to disappear from view, leads us to believe that there is no need to wear sunscreen during the winter and monsoon seasons. So it’s time for a reality check. In reality, the sun’s harmful rays are the same regardless of the season.

Choosing the best sunscreen and applying it correctly
To avoid sun-damaged skin from the harshest sun, we should choose a sunscreen based on its composition, sun-protecting strength, consistency, and breadth. When looking for a good sunscreen, we must consider whether it offers broad-spectrum sun protection of at least SPF 50 PA++ or SPF 30 PA++, with a minimum of SPF 15 PA++ for Indian weather. The ideal sunscreen contains natural zinc oxide as well as other natural ingredients such as cranberry, sunflower, calendula, and so on. Furthermore, it must have a non-greasy, sweat-proof, and water-resistant formulation that is long-lasting. Paraben, silicon, and cruelty-free formulation are other factors to consider when selecting a sunscreen.

In order to achieve maximum efficacy, sunscreens should be applied at least 10 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours. Even makeup users should use sunscreen first, followed by a moisturizer. Without a doubt, this ritual should be performed regardless of the season.

Here’s a list of the top reasons why you should wear sunscreen all year.
UVA and UVB rays are protected by good sunscreens. Ultraviolet or UV rays are classified into two types: Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and cause wrinkles and skin discoloration, resulting in premature aging. UVB rays, on the other hand, are the ‘burning’ rays that cause sunburn. When used on a daily basis, a good and effective sunscreen with the aforementioned features can protect the skin from both of these harmful rays.

Limits the appearance of sunburn- Excessive exposure to UV rays without sun protection causes a long-lasting burn, similar to sunspots or age spots, that takes a long time to fade even with proper care. Sunspots can appear on the face, arms, back, shoulders, and back of the hands, among other places. To avoid sunburn, it’s best to take precautions by wearing good sunscreen.
Prevents premature skin aging- Regular use of sunscreen effectively protects and prevents our skin from photoaging, which is caused by repeated exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Wrinkles, pigmented, dry, rough, and uneven skin, and loss of elasticity are all signs of photoaging.

Helps to maintain even skin tone- Sun exposure without sunscreen causes skin discoloration. Sun exposure without protection can cause dark spots on the skin. As a result, to avoid hyperpigmentation and maintain an even skin tone, one should only go outside after applying sunscreen.
To summarise
If you’re wondering if you should wear sunscreen all year, the answer is yes, always. When people go outside, they should protect their skin by using the proper sunscreen to maintain and enjoy their skin’s natural youthful appearance.