WHEN TO WEAR SUNSCREEN

Did you know that it is recommended that you wear sunscreen every day?. Many of us believe that applying sunscreen is only something we need to do in the summer months, however, this is a common misconception. It's essential to incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine year-round. Surprisingly, the sun can be even more dangerous in the winter months, and its UV rays can even pass through the windows of our homes and can damage our skin.

This article will tell you more about these risks so you can take steps to keep yourself and your family safe. It will also answer “when to wear sunscreen” questions like:

• Should I use sunscreen at night?
• Should you use sunscreen in winter?
• Do I need sunscreen indoors?
• What kind of sunscreen works best?
• Do I need to wear sunscreen if it is cloudy outside?
• Is blue light something that I should be worried about?

Do You Need to Wear Sunscreen Indoors?

Sunlight contains both UVA and UVB rays. When you see an SPF rating on a bottle or tube of sunscreen, the number tells you how effective the product is at blocking or absorbing UVB rays. This titbit of information isn’t something you have to worry about indoors, as UVB rays cannot pass through glass.

However, UVA rays DO make it through windows, and they penetrate even more deeply into the skin than UVB rays. This is the part of sunlight that causes the skin to wrinkle and change color, which is why you should always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen indoors.

UVA rays are also the reason driving is one of the leading causes of hand aging since they penetrate the car window glass. In addition to causing wrinkles and dark spots, UVA rays impair the skin’s ability to produce collagen and contribute to skin cancer.

About Blue Light

You probably know about infrared and ultraviolet light, but have you ever heard of blue light? This term is commonly used to describe high-energy visible light emitted by computer screens and LED light bulbs.

HEV light also penetrates deeply into the skin, and it does almost as much damage as UVA rays. This fact means it might be a good idea to apply sunscreen to parts of your body not covered by clothing when you sit in front of a computer, even if you are in a windowless room.

Broad-Spectrum Mineral Protection

If you are looking for a way to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful indoor light, choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection that works against both UVA and UVB rays. 

You should also look for a mineral sunscreen with an ingredient like zinc oxide that forms a physical barrier as it will protect you against HEV light as well as UVA rays. Mineral sunscreens are also better for the environment and are more comfortable to wear.

Should You Wear Sunscreen in Winter?

The subconscious mind can sometimes lead us down paths that we should not take. One of these paths is assuming that the sun does not do us any harm if it is not hot and burning our skin.

Most people apply sunscreen fastidiously when temperatures soar and then leave this crucial protection in a drawer or cabinet when the days are short and kids are making snowmen instead of building sandcastles. This is a big mistake.

Winter Means More UV Light

The sun may not be out for as long in the winter months, but it certainly makes the most of the time it has. That is because snow and ice can intensify sunlight by reflecting up to 80% of the sun’s UV light, even if it’s cloudy or foggy. 

In other words, you are being hit twice by dangerous UVA and UVB rays: Once from above and once from below. By comparison, grass, soil and water only reflect about 10% of the sun’s damaging rays. For this reason alone, you should always use sunscreen in winter.  

Here are a couple of other reasons it’s vital to apply sunscreen in the wintertime.

Winter Sports

Skiers and snowboarders should be especially concerned about sunlight and wear sunscreen in winter because UV levels increase by about 10% for every 1.000 meters of altitude. This effect happens because there are fewer atmospheres to absorb the sun’s radiation. The strong winds at high altitudes can also intensify the effects of sunlight on the skin.

Winter and the Ozone Layer

The Ozone layer is basically the earth’s sunscreen, as it protects the planet against ultraviolet light. Meanwhile, it is at its thinnest in the winter, and with a thinner ozone layer to protect us, more UV light makes it to the ground and reaches our skin.

This is another reason why you should apply sunscreen every time you go out in cold weather. The good news is that you will not need as much because most of your body is covered by warm winter clothing.

Do You Need Sunscreen at Night?

So, can you use sunscreen every day? That’s a resounding yes, and you should wear it as a regimen to maintain healthy skin. But what about wearing it at night? That’s a good question. You may assume that wearing sunscreen at night is a waste of time because there is no sunlight, blue light, or any light to worry about, and you would be right. The time you spend sleeping is probably the only time you do not have to worry about protecting yourself from the dangers of natural and artificial light.

In fact, wearing sunscreen moisturizer in bed is actually a bad idea since the molecules that protect against UVA and UVB rays are pretty large, and they can press into your skin while you sleep, enlarging your pores. The skin repairs itself while we sleep, so applying moisturizer before you shut off the light is a prudent step to take. Just make sure that it is not the moisturizer you use during the day to protect your skin from UV light. 

What Is the Best Sunscreen?

The best sunscreen is the one that you will use and wear every day. The right one has to be a snap to apply and not leave you feeling oily. Finding a product that really works for you is critical because just 15 minutes of exposure to sunlight can damage the skin, and Project Sunscreen has got you covered.

Our line of mineral roll-on sunscreens for babies, kids and adults have been developed by dermatologists to provide the last word in protection, and they are resistant to water for up to 80 minutes. Our quick-drying formula won’t leave your hands feeling sticky, and it leaves no white residue because it rubs on clear.