Wearing an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) every day has many advantages for the skin. Also in the winter you should wear an SPF; the temperature has nothing to do with the power of the sun. Exposure to UV-radiation can cause wrinkles, pigment spots, loss of elasticity and dehydration.
Types of UV-radiation
The Uv-radiation of the sun can damage the skin. There are two types of UV-radiation, namely:
- UVA-radiation: this is present the entire year and is not stopped by glass. UVA-radiation is filtered less well by clouds. This radiation intrudes deeper into the skin. UVA-radiation can cause skin damage such as skin ageing and skin cancer.
- UVB-radiation: this radiation can cause your skin to burn and damage your skin in this way. UVB-radiation is influenced by the thickness of the ozone layer. Besides that, UVB-radiation ensures vitamin D production and the tanned colour on your skin.
95% of the sunlight which reaches our earth is UVA-radiation. You do not burn and the skin does not become red, but the damaging radiation does intrude into your skin. This happens every day so you do not sense it! Therefore we advise to apply an SPF every day, also in the winter and also when you are inside the entire day.
How much SPF should you apply?
It is important to apply a sufficient amount of SPF to the face. Many people apply too less of the suns protection product. For the right protection of face and neck you can use the amount of a tea spoon. A good amount fits in the length on two fingers. Apply your SPF every 2 hours. Also do not use lower than SPF30.
Tip! Use an SPF spray to reapply every 2 hours. This is useful when you wear makeup, because you can spray the SPF over it. Vichy, La Roche-Posay or Avène have sprays with SPF in the product range.