The sun produces different kinds of radiation, one of which is UV radiation.
UV radiation can be divided in two type of rays: UVA and UVB.
UVA rays are mainly responsible for the premature ageing of cells.
Over time, sun exposure causes a thinning and hollowing out of the skin, leading to a loss of plumpness and elasticity, as well as accentuated wrinkles.
UVA rays are present all year round, even on grey or rainy days, and have the ability to go through windows.
To fully protect your skin from UVA rays, opt for sunscreen every day, even when you are at home.
On the other hand, UVB rays responsible only affect us when we are outside and under direct sunlight.
EXPERT
OPINIONVeronique Delvigne Scientific Director La Roche-Posay
The sun is essential to life.
In small doses, it has a very beneficial effect on our health.
The sun and vitamin D is essential to life. In small doses, it has a very beneficial effect on our health.
The sun can be an excellent remedy for certain forms of seasonal depression, and aids with Vitamin D synthesis, which is indispensable to fix calcium in our bones.
To enjoy these benefits, 15 minutes of sun exposure per day suffice. In strong doses, however, the sun can also be dangerous.
As UV rays are all year long, and confinement is starting to be reduced, it’s important that you wear sunscreen to be protected from potential risks, such as melanoma, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and wrinkles.
Even if during this quarantine period we are mostly inside, UV rays can still reach our skin: through the windows, when we go out to the supermarket or during our daily outing.
Therefore, we still need to protect our skin and wear sunscreen every day.
Clothing is your first line of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation, but you still need to wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
To properly protect your face and neck from the sun, your hat needs a wide brim all the way around (at least 7.5cm), and a crown!
So, just say no to baseball caps and sun visors.
Even during short periods of time, skin is exposed to UV rays that will gradually cause the stigmata of photo-ageing to appear.
To fully protect your skin, opt for sunscreen every day, not just when you are outside for a long period of time and it’s warm and sunny.
Safety standards beyond international cosmetics regulations.