How (and Why) to Protect Your Skin from the Sun All Year Long

Did you know that wearing sunscreen consistently can reduce your skin aging by up to 24%? One study followed a group of 900 people during a 4-and-a-half-year period and found that the group who used sunscreen on a consistent basis had no progress in skin aging compared with the group who didn’t use sunscreen.

For this reason, it’s worth investing in good sunscreen for daily use and wearing it even on cloudy days or during the colder months. Protecting your skin from the sun can’t fight all of the signs of aging, as losing bone and fat tissue density also impacts aging, but it can reduce your risk of wrinkles and skin pigmentation.

Below, we asked Dr. Pompeyo Chavez, our expert at Soulage Wellness & Aesthetic Center, to explain why it’s important to protect your skin all year long and how to do so.

How much sun exposure do you need for optimal health?

Sun exposure does more than aid vitamin D production. It also increases your body’s levels of nitric oxide, a substance that reduces blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks.

However, too much sun can raise your risk of skin cancer, so how are we supposed to know how much sun we need?

In the mornings and the afternoons, taking a short walk outside should provide more than enough sun.

One way to improve your skin’s tolerance to the sun’s rays is to increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. That way, you can enjoy your morning walk and soak up the benefits all while enjoying built-in protection against sun damage.

Protecting yourself against the sun

Many people assume that you can’t experience sun damage without getting sunburned. What many don’t know is that there are two types of UV radiation: UVA and UVB.

UVB is responsible for creating redness, sunburns, and blisters, whereas UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and can accelerate aging in the absence of a sunburn.

Therefore, you can sit next to a window for hours without getting get sunburned, because glass blocks UV. However, during that time, your skin can still be damaged by UVA rays, which can penetrate through glass.

For best results, you should consider opting for a 30 SPF sunscreen that contains both UVB and UVA protection and use it even when staying indoors.

Learn more about protecting your skin against harmful rays

Many products on the market contain irritants, perfume, and other ingredients that can increase your chances of experiencing a breakout.

Dr. Chavez understands that it’s not easy to find a product you’re comfortable wearing daily. For this reason, he offers his clients access to several lines of award-winning skin care products, each tailored to specific skin care issues.