Sunscreen should be a part of your daily skin care regimen throughout the year, no matter what the weather, says dermatologist Dr Izolda Heydenrych from the Cosmetic Dermatology Centre in Cape Town. You are actually more likely to get burnt on a cloudy day than in full sunshine. Both UVA and UVB rays penetrate clouds better than visible light. UVA rays penetrate through glass windows, so your skin is damaged even while you are driving. UVB, known as “tanning rays,” are strongest during the summer months when the earth is the closest to the sun. They penetrate the epidermis (the very top layer of the skin), stimulating the melanocyte cells to produce melanin, creating that suntan colour (and also brownish or age spots). UVA rays are more dangerous than UVB, penetrating the epidermis and dispersing into the dermis, or second layer of skin. The dermis is made up of collagen, elastin, blood vessels, and nerve endings, and stops renewing itself around the age of 28. UVA exposure leads to collagen and elastin breakdown, causing wrinkles and sagging skin. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen formula, which protects against both UVA and UVB is a must, regardless of the time of year.
Is sunscreen necessary in the winter or on cloudy days?
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Latest Issue: February 2012
Sun screens should be worn if you are going to out in the sun for periods that could cause excess exposure. We have measured the effect of clouds on UVA and UVB radiation and have found that a good rule of thumb with heavy cloud cover is UV radiation is reduced by about half, but why guess how much sun is enough when there is a product available today to help keep you safe. iTanSmart was developed by its inventor Kevin McGuire a physicist after he noticed sun spots forming on his face after years of as he calls it, “fun in the sun.” He didn’t want this to happen to others so he developed a App. that takes the guess work out of sun exposure athat can be used by anyone with a iPod, iPad, or , iPhone anywhere in the world. Don’t take a chance with the sun, you are playing with fire.