Are you guilty of forgetting to apply sunscreen? By now, we hope you've read or heard enough from us to know the importance of protecting your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays. But we understand there are times when sunscreen might inevitably slip your mind.
So, in today's LifeJournal, we wanted to highlight the five most common instances where we see sunscreen being overlooked. Hopefully, by reminding you of the importance of incorporating LifeJacket into your daily routine, skin damage will be a thing of the past. Let's dive in!
Cloudy days: Don't be deceived by the clouds!
Despite the absence of direct sunlight, up to 80% of UV light can penetrate and pass through through clouds. This means that even on overcast days, your skin is still at risk of damage. Incorporating SPF into your morning regime, whether in the form of sunscreen or an SPF moisturiser, is a good way to protect your skin, avoid being caught out and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
While driving, flying or working by a window: shield your skin behind glass!
Many of us spend a significant amount of time by a window whether that's while commuting, travelling by air or just working next to a window all day. Glass doesn't provide sufficient protection against UVA rays. These rays can penetrate glass and reach the deeper layers of your skin, weakening the proteins that give skin its structure (and tension) and potentially damaging DNA in your skin. The former has cosmetic, skin-wrinkling implications and the latter has more serious health implications.
Quick outdoor activities: Even brief moments under the sun matter!
We often underestimate the cumulative impact of short outdoor activities on our skin. Whether it's running errands, walking the dog, or enjoying a brief coffee outside. These moments add up and contribute to sun damage. Applying sunscreen before stepping outside - especially between April and September but ideally, all year round - no matter how short the duration, will help safeguard your skin in the long run. And don't worry, this won't limit your body's ability to synthesise vitamin D.
In the UK!
You wouldn't believe how many people don't wear skin protection in the UK or how many times we hear that SPF is only needed abroad. Judging by the number of serious burns, red faces and how much peeling skin we've seen recently across parks, pubs and beaches, it's time us Brits wake up and change cultural norms.
Winter months: Winter doesn't mean you're safe from the sun's rays!
At the time of writing, it's 30 degrees and we're half way through July so this one feels strange to mention. However, it might be the most important of all. Although the cold winter months may seem like a respite from the scorching sun, UV rays still harm your skin. Remember, skin damage is caused by light NOT heat. As long as it's light outside, your skin is accumulating UV damage. In fact, UVA strength doesn't really deviate during the year and UVA accounts for 95% of all UV that reaches us on earth. Forewarned is forearmed: wear SPF all year round. And that's exactly what any dermatologist would tell you!
Conclusion
We spend so long looking after or training other parts of our body. Yet, so often, we overlook our skin, the body's largest organ.
We exist to remind you of the importance of protecting your skin from environmental aggressors, like harmful UV rays.
Whether you use LifeJacket or another brand, incorporating skin protection into your daily routine is a great place to start. It just means you can shield your skin from damage, maintain a healthy complexion, and reduce your risk of skin cancer.
