Sun Care

Although many people love to get a tan by sunbathing, exposing yourself to the sun’s rays would do more harm than good. Yes, it triggers the synthesis of vitamin D in the body, for bone health and immune system, but it also brings a lot of harmful effects.

The sun gives off UV rays that are damaging to the skin. Aside from causing sunburn, they also cause premature ageing of the skin. This is due to the damage they cause to the elastin fibres of the skin, creating wrinkles and fine lines.

Despite the love for tanning and the belief that it looks great, excessive sun exposure can cause numerous health problems. It can cause skin lesions that may be cancerous as well as benign tumours. It is also the culprit for other aesthetic issues like freckles, wrinkles, skin discolouration and sagging skin.

The sun’s UV rays are categorised into two, namely the UVA and UVB rays. The main difference between the two is the ability to penetrate deeply through the skin.

UVB rays penetrate the top layers of the skin, causing immediate effects. This includes getting a tan, sunburn by UVB as well as free radicals and cancer. This is the more intense kind of UV rays and is stronger during the sun’s peak hours from 10 am to 4 pm during summer months, although it may vary in other countries near the equator.

UVA rays get into the deeper part of the skin because they have the longest wavelength. They are less intense and have no immediate effects, however, they can still cause damage to the skin. Prolonged exposure to UVA ray can also cause ageing on the skin creating wrinkles, lessening skin’s elasticity and damaging collagen.

Being outdoors is an enjoyable activity, however, you should ensure to keep yourself well-protected. Fortunately, there are already many sun protection products that will shield your skin from the sun’s rays for a specific amount of time.

The indicator of the level of sun protection a product can give is determined by the SPF. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a number shown on all sun protection products that determines the length of time you are protected from the sun than without any product.

For example, if you use a product with SPF20, it will guard your skin against sunburn, 20 times more than the normal amount of time needed for your skin to start burning from the sun without protection. Products with SPF50 means its protection is 50 times more.

Consider your skin type when selecting a sun care product. If your skin is fair, freckled or has a lot of moles, you will need a higher SPF compared to naturally dark or olive-toned skin.

Most people believe that sun protection is only needed during hot, sunny days, but you need to wear an SPF product every day. UV rays are indeed intense during the summer, but even when it is cloudy or not hot outside, they can still penetrate your skin. UVA rays are present in all daylight and as these are the ones that cause long-term damage (such as ageing), you will not be able to see the damaging effects until it’s too late.