Why You Should Wear Sunscreen All Year Long

Is it ever okay to skip out on the sunscreen? Skipping sunscreen is perhaps the biggest beauty mistake the majority of us keep making. While cloudy or cold days (or simply running late) may be easy excuses, skimping on sunscreen could actually age your appearance by years. Here’s why it’s important to invest in a quality daily sunscreen, year-round.

What Happens When You Don’t Wear Sunscreen

While applying sunscreen should definitely be a daily habit, America’s track record says we’re far from making that a reality. According to an ABC News poll, only 53% of women and 36% of men apply SPF—and that’s only “sometimes”.

While skipping sunscreen for a 10-minute walk might not seem like a big deal, the cumulative effects of sun damage will eventually take a visible toll.

How? The sun’s rays contain ultraviolet (UV) photons, which are like little bits of energy. These UV photons are invisible to the naked eye, but they can cause a lot of damage to the skin. When absorbed, UVB photons excite molecules in the skin. To release this energy, the molecules begin to warp via chemical reactions. This may manifest itself in the development of a couple brown spots (also known as age spots), a tan, or worse. UVA photons, on the other hand, are able to penetrate deeper into the skin, causing damage to elastin collagen proteins, which are two building blocks for smooth, firm skin.

Add up all of these interactions between the sun’s UV photons and skin’s molecules over time and we see visible signs of premature aging, including pigmentation, visible veins, broken blood vessels, brown spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, as well as increased skin cancer risk. This can occur regardless of your skin type and skin tone, whether you’re Fitzpatrick Type I like Emma Stone, or Fitzpatrick Type VI like Naomi Campbell.

The Sun Doesn’t Take a Vacation Day

While clouds, rain, or snowfall may hide the sun from view, weather should never be considered a shield from sun exposure. No matter the season or forecast, the sun is still up there every day, emitting UV rays that can wreak havoc on skin health and DNA.

You see, UVA and UVB rays may seem absent on a cloudy, rainy, or snowy day, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80% of the sun’s UV rays will still make their way to the earth and damage exposed skin. Sand, water, and snow can also amplify sun damage risk, since they act as a mirror bouncing UV rays back to exposed skin. This results in double the exposure—once when the sun’s rays directly penetrate exposed skin, then again when UV rays are reflected off of sand, water, or snow and onto the skin’s surface. For those who like to hike in the summer or hit the slopes in the winter, or who simply live in an area of higher elevation, take note that UV radiation is intensified at a five-percent increase for every 1,000 feet in elevation, which means you’ll need to reapply sunscreen more often than when you’re at a lower elevation.

How to Properly Apply Sunscreen

This may be a repeat lesson for many, but choosing a quality sunscreen and applying it the right way is essential to effective protection. To make it simple, follow these sun safety guidelines:

Always opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen to block both UVA and UVB rays, and aim for a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.
Reapplying every two hours is essential, regardless of SPF rating. SPF ratings only apply to UVB rays—the ones that cause sunburns, tans, and cancer. They do not apply to UVA rays—those that can cause premature aging and changes in pigmentation, as well as cancer.
Use at least an ounce (a shot glass, or two tablespoons) for full-body application, or a nickel-sized amount for the face alone if all other skin is protected under winter layers. And don’t forget your ears, neck, or your hands, which may be betraying your age otherwise!
Facial moisturizers containing SPF 30 or above may be used in place of standard sunscreen, but remember to reapply every two hours.

As for those who may have believed the rumor, face oils that contain antioxidants are not a sufficient substitute for a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Is It Possible to Reverse Sun Damage?

Though treatments should never be considered a substitute for sunscreen, it is possible to minimize some of the visible signs of sun damage with intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacial treatments. These anti-aging treatments target the pigment beneath the skin’s surface using targeted light, correcting signs of uneven pigmentation and discoloration for a more even-toned, younger-looking complexion.

Remember, though, that while these treatments may work on darker skin tones, there is a higher risk of discoloration due to higher levels of pigment present in darker skin, so it’s best to have a certified treatment provider perform a test spot prior to any treatment.

To discover if these treatments are right for you, contact a certified treatment provider today using our search field below.

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Venus Versa™ has CE Mark as a multi-application device intended to be used in aesthetic and cosmetic procedures. The SR515 and SR580 applicators have CE Mark for the treatment of benign pigmented epidermal and cutaneous lesions and treatment of benign cutaneous vascular lesions. The HR650/HR650XL and HR690/HR690XL applicators have CE Mark for the removal of unwanted hair and to effect stable long-term or permanent hair reduction for Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. The AC Dual applicator has CE Mark for the treatment of acne vulgaris. The DiamondPolar™ applicator has CE Mark for non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides on females with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. The OctiPolar™ applicator on the Venus Versa™ system has CE Mark for temporary body contouring via skin tightening, circumferential reduction, and cellulite reduction. The NanoFractional RF™ (Viva) applicator has CE Mark for dermatological procedures requiring ablation and resurfacing of the skin.

NeoGraft^® 2.0 has CE Mark with indication for use in suction-assisted follicular extraction and re-implantation for males and females.

The ARTAS iX™ from Restoration Robotics® is indicated for harvesting hair follicles from the scalp in men diagnosed with androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) who have black or brown straight hair. The ARTAS iX™ from Restoration Robotics® is intended to assist physicians in identifying and extracting hair follicular units from the scalp during hair transplantation; creating recipient sites; and implanting harvested hair follicles.

Venus Epileve™ has CE Mark for hair removal, permanent hair reduction (defined as the long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing when measured at 6, 9 and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regimen), and the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae for all Fitzpatrick skin types. Venus Epileve™ is also CE-Marked for hirsutism.

Venus Legacy™ has CE Mark for the temporary increase of skin tightening, circumferential reduction, cellulite reduction, and wrinkle reduction.

Venus Velocity™ has CE Mark for hair removal, permanent hair reduction (defined as the long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing when measured at 6, 9 and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regimen), and the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae for all Fitzpatrick skin types.

Venus Viva™ has CE Mark for the use in dermatologic and general surgical procedures requiring ablation and resurfacing of the skin, and the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides in Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV with the DiamondPolar™ applicator.

Venus Freeze Plus™ has CE Mark for treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides using the DiamondPolar™ applicator, and CE Mark for the treatment of cellulite reduction, increase of skin tightening, and temporary circumferential reduction on the OctiPolar™ applicator.

Venus Freeze™ has CE Mark for treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides using the DiamondPolar™ applicator, and CE Mark for the treatment of cellulite reduction, increase of skin tightening, and temporary circumferential reduction on the OctiPolar™ applicator.

Venus Glow™ provides a dermal rejuvenation treatment that works to open up and deep-clean pores. Venus Concept is the exclusive distributor for Venus Glow™.

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