Why You Should Wear UPF50+ Sun Protection 365 Days Of The Year

As summer draws to a close, you may be thinking that you don't have to be as diligent with your sun protection. But cold weather doesn't mean that the sun doesn't still come out! Keep reading to see why sun protection is important year round, not just during the summer months.

Even when it’s cloudy, UV rays are still present.

It’s a fact: UV rays are invisible. They’re present even when the sky is cloudy, which means you can be exposed to them all year long—not just during those sweltering summer months.

UV rays penetrate clouds and glass, so even on a cloudy day or when you are inside your car (which has tinted windows), you are still being exposed to harmful UV rays!

It doesn't take very long for damage from UV rays to happen. The time it takes for sun damage caused by overexposure varies depending on the person and amount of sun exposure received, but generally speaking it can happen in as little as 15 minutes with repeated exposure leading up to more severe damage like wrinkles and age spots.

You could be burning without realizing it.

You may think that you’re avoiding sunburns and aging just by applying sunscreen in the morning, but it takes even more protection than that to avoid damage. UVA rays can penetrate through glass, so even sitting inside your car in the parking lot of your grocery store can cause sun damage to occur on your skin.

Reapply broad spectrum sunscreen throughout the day to block both UVB and UVA rays, and wear UPF50+ clothing when you can! It's also important to remember that the sun's UV rays are strongest between 10am - 4pm, so be extra careful during those hours.

Sun protection prevents skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.

Sunscreen and UPF50+ clothing are great ways to protect your skin from harmful sun rays, but don’t forget about other ways you can protect yourself from UV damage:

• Wear sunglasses that filter out UV rays.
• Wear a wide-brim hat to protect your face
• Seek shade when possible.

Most people don’t apply sunscreen properly.

You may not realize it, but most people don’t apply sunscreen properly. It’s important that you use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed skin, especially when you go outside.

It’s best to apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside so that the product has time to absorb into your skin and provide protection from UVA rays. If possible, avoid using a moisturizer with SPF in it because the oil in many moisturizers will prevent sunscreens from being absorbed into your skin as well as they could be otherwise. Also remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours throughout the day!

If you remember to wear SPF and UPF 50+ clothing, you can safely spend time outdoors without worrying about damaging your skin, which means more time doing the things that are important to you.