So, although the sun will still be peeking through, Summer is officially over, Fall is here and Winter is coming. Most people think that you don't need sunscreen on colder days and one of the most uncommon but so essential things to do, as a black person, is applying SPF (Sun Protection Factor), especially during the winter.
Besides the fact that the sun is still coming up every day, the Ozone layer is also thinner during winter, which means it absorbs less radiation from the sun. Though the sun may shine more on some days than others and regardless of you SEEING the sun, it's still shining through the clouds and is still harmful to your skin, even your perfectly melanated skin.
Let me share with you six reasons why you SHOULD apply SPF in the winter as well:
- Snow and ice intensify and reflect 90% of the sun’s rays.
- 90 % of the skin aging symptoms like Pigmentation, wrinkles, and losing elasticity in the skin, are results of (over)exposing your skin to the sun and not protecting it.
- You may not think so, but the UV A rays (which go deeper in the skin than the B rays) go straight through clouds AND Glass and are present all year -round. So if your skin is unprotected, you're putting yourself at a higher risk to develop skin cancer. And of course, just like with any other illness that can be caused by bad habits, this doesn't happen overnight.
( Ultraviolet A (UVA) has a longer wavelength and is associated with skin aging.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a shorter wavelength and is associated with skin burning.)
- Air pollution. If you apply SPF, you can block cigarette smoke, car exhaust, smog, dirt, and dust, to just name a few, from settling on your skin. Air pollution also causes skin aging, dehydration of skin, and inflammation for example.
- If you already have dark spots, from acne, you can prevent them from getting darker.
- Bonus reason you probably never thought of: If you're like me and like getting your nails done at the salon, you might want to start putting SPF on your hands. UV lamps that is being used to dry our nails, may be OK occasionally, but repeated exposure to UVA rays from the drying lamp can cause cumulative damage to the skin over time.
So why risk it, right?! Nobody wants to walk around looking like a dried-up grape or have witchy hands, even if you are one ;) !
What about Vitamin D?
What about it? Besides just getting that from your beau...LOL (see what I did there :P HAAAAH ) off course the sun and its beautiful rays will help us get our very much-needed Vitamin D. This vitamin helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy.
Vitamin D affects our mood as well, so it surely is important to absorb and enjoy the sun. And when you do, do it safely and apply your SPF AFTER your moisturizer.
Vitamin D is also found in fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon, or in orange juice. It's also recommended to take Vitamin D supplements if you are not able to, or don't want to eat fish or drink orange juice. Don't think that if you have a Vitamin D deficiency, that you can fix it by just overexposing yourself to the sun because you will only cause harm to your skin. A balanced diet will get you far in life.
What Factor should I use?
I use SPF 50! Ten years ago I burned my legs while sunbathing and I'll never forget how much it hurt. I even went to the doctor to ask for something to apply to my skin for relief!
So I just choose one of the highest protection (there is no 100% protection), with Hyaluronic Acids for multi-level hydration and anti-dark spot complex in it. My skin just burns fast, so I need high-level protection. Obviously darker skin types can easily use SPF 15, because of more melanin in the skin, which does give SOME protection. Especially in the winter, SPF15 would be a good choice. However, dermatologists recommend everyone start at SPF 30. Because yes, darker skin may not burn easily, but still are at risk of skin damage!
So, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen:
- always wear sunscreen. Apply this after your serum and moisturizer. It will have your skin glowing and feeling extra soft.
- If you have a moisturizer or foundation with an SPF in it. That's okay only for the Winter, for the Summer use a separate SPF.
- A cream is better than a spray.
- apply every two/three hours (Summer).
- Start with SPF 30 or up for good protection.
- Avoid overexposure to the sun (especially between noon and 4 pm)
- Enjoy the sun, while receiving that Vitamin D (pun intended!). But always use protection! (yes that was another pun :P LOOL) ;)
Let me know below if I encouraged you to use SPF from now on or if you have already been using SPF and how did you start? If you want to share an experience, those are all welcome as well!