As spring arrives, the sun and temperature rise and the weather becomes warmer. We can’t wait to go for a walk and enjoy the sun on our face after the cold of winter. But what about the effects of sun on your skin during spring? Should you wear sunscreen before going out in the sun?
In this article from The Dermo Lab, we have gathered some basic facts about the effects of sun on your skin during spring so you can protect yourselves from sun damage.
1- UV rays are present all year long regardless of the season
You might think that the sun during springtime is not harmful since the weather is cooler, however, as the dermatologist and cosmetologist Dr. Rami Abadi explains, the sun can damage your skin whatever the season.
In fact, the clouds block as little as 20% of UV rays, which means that you’re still getting up to 80% of its harmful effects. And what about those sunny days with no clouds during which we become directly exposed to UV rays?
The truth is that sunlight has lots of benefits such as the production of vitamin D, however, we should be careful when it comes to sun exposure to reduce the damage on the skin.
2- Harmful effects of UV rays
Why should we protect ourselves from UV rays? Because it can penetrate deeply into the skin causing sunburns. Also, the prolonged exposure to UV rays is the number-one cause of skin cancer. Keep in mind that we cannot see or feel UV rays, and by the time you can see the damage they cause, it will be too late.
Sun can damage your skin by causing severe sunburns and increase your chance of developing skin cancer as we have seen earlier; it can also put you at risk for wrinkles, brown spots and skin discoloration.
3- Sun exposure and premature skin aging
During spring, the sun is as harmful as in the summer months and can accelerate skin aging causing wrinkles and age spots. It’s very important to differentiate between the normal aging process and the photo-aging which is the damage of the skin caused by prolonged sun exposure. Photo-aging is the primary cause of aging because it reduces collagen production resulting in loss of elasticity and appearance of wrinkles at a younger age.
How can we protect ourselves from the harmful effects of UV rays?
Does that mean that we have to completely avoid the sun despite its health benefits and the pleasant feeling of warmth on your skin? Of course not. But you need to be very careful and always wear sunscreen to keep your skin protected.
Here are a few tips given by Dr. Rami Abadi to help you choose the right sunscreen.
Look for a sunscreen:
- With broad-spectrum, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays
- That is specially designed for your skin type
- With a sun protection factor SPF50+
Dr. Rami Abadi also recommends reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours when exposed to the sun.
So, enjoy the spring sun’s rays on your skin but don’t forget to protect it from sun damage!
We recommend you use the following sunscreen, Very High Protection Fluid SPF50+ from Eau Thermale Avène, the leading skin care brand for sensitive skin, as it provides you with a full water-resistant protection against UV rays SPF50+ and a dry and matte finish.
Last Updated on February 16, 2024
