It’s a common misconception that you only need to wear sunscreen when you’ll be directly exposed to the sun and can skip it on cloudy or overcast days.
The truth is that the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin on cold, gray days or when you are sitting in the shade.
Continue reading to learn all the reasons why you should wear sunscreen even if you’re not in the sun.
Wondering why you should wear sunscreen even if you’re not in the sun? Two words – UV rays.
The sun’s UV rays are extremely dangerous. They can damage skin, cause mutations in cells, and possibly result in malignant tumors and cancer.
UV rays can also injure skin even when it’s cloudy. And don’t assume that you’re safe just because you’re sitting in the shade.
UV rays have the ability to reflect off of sand, water, and concrete and cause a sunburn.
For these reasons, you should always check the UV index, wear sunscreen, and take the necessary precautions before heading outdoors.
The two main types of UV rays emitted by the sun are UVA and UVB rays.
UVA rays make up about 95% of the sun’s UV rays and are able to penetrate the dermis. As such, they are associated with premature aging.
UVB rays penetrate the outer layer of the skin and are responsible for sun burns.
Because both UVA and UVB rays are harmful and can cause skin cancer, it’s important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen (like our proprietary ‘Skin Umbrella’ pictured on the right) that has UVA and UVB protection.
There are several ways that you can protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays:
If you would like additional information about sun protection, please contact our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Rostami and Dr. Nazemzadeh.
