The endless days of sunshine and record-breaking temperatures this month have - hopefully - had everyone slapping on sunscreen before going outside. We are good at remembering to protect our skin when the sun appears, but SPF should be an important part of your skincare routine year-round.
With serums now available for every possible skin issue, it is easy to overlook the fact that SPF is the most effective preventative step you can take against skin ageing, uneven skin tone, and fine lines. While you can pick up serums to address many of these issues, none are as effective as protecting your skin from damage before it happens.
SPF does, of course, protect against cellular damage that can cause skin cancer, and that is the most important reason to wear it. But its benefits go far beyond this.
UVA and UVB
SPF is designed to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV ) radiation from the sun. This radiation is broadly categorised as A or B, based on its wavelength. One helpful way to look at these two categories is in terms of their effects on sunburn and ageing.
UVA is less damaging than UVB, but it does cause skin ageing. UVA - think A for ageing - penetrates deeper into the skin and damages collagen, which speeds up skin ageing. It also contributes to uneven skin tone.
UVB, meanwhile, causes sunburn in summer. This more dangerous radiation is the main reason why we wear SPF - think B for burning. And it is the burning of the skin by UVB radiation that can later lead to skin cancer.
Year-round protection
Obviously, we rarely have to worry about sunburn outside the peak months of summer, but the damage caused by UVA happens year-round. In fact, the skin ageing caused by UVA radiation is one of the most easily preventable causes of skin ageing. And the younger you start using it, the better.
So, keep slapping on the sunscreen while the hot weather continues, but also consider incorporating it into your year-round skincare routine. By adding a standalone SPF to your morning skincare routine, or simply opting for a moisturiser that has SPF built-in, you can help to reduce lines and dark spots later.
Your future skin will thank you for it.
