Is SPF actually essential?

As the summer draws to a close, it is easy to stash away your bottles of Hawaiian Tropic along with bikini tops and flip flops to clear room for the season of gloves and scarves. However, while the bikinis won’t serve much purpose in the winter months, your SPF lotion certainly will.

I know what you are thinking.

There is no sun in the UK during winter, so why would I need sunscreen? Despite there being little direct sunlight, UV rays can penetrate the skin indirectly by reflecting from surfaces like concrete. The sun’s UV rays are dangerous as they damage the DNA of our skin cells leading to melanoma, the fifth most common cancer in the UK – yet many go without sunscreen in the colder months without realising that the harsher weather, such as snow, intensifies sun rays.

Dermatologist Dr P. Wexler recommends wearing at least SPF-30 during the winter months. Not only will this better protect you from skin cancers, but it also prevents photoaging and wrinkles. Sun rays affect the elasticity of the skin, as well as causing dark spots, both of which can make a person appear older. Therefore, wearing sunscreen every day is a fantastic way to preserve your youth.

Granted it is not easy to remember to pull out a bottle of SPF-50 during a hectic morning before a lecture. A great way to wear sunscreen daily is to begin incorporating it into your beauty routine. For instance, drug store foundations such as the No7 Protect and Perfect foundation features SPF-50 within the serum, or if you prefer high-end brands, Clinique Even Better foundation has SPF-15.

Incorporating SPF into your face products is especially important as skin cancers have been proven to disproportionately occur on the head, as it is frequently exposed to the sun. For the rest of the body, self-tanners, such as Skinny Tan, sell fake tan with SPF-50 in – to fix the problem of being pale without putting yourself at risk.

If you prefer to stick to sunscreen, the NHS encourages that when looking for them, always seek one with four-star UVA protection and at least a factor 30 for maximum protection. This information can always be found on the labels of reliable products.

It is essential that we care for our skin 365 days a year. Even in the winter when the sun is not glaring, the effects of the sun last for a lifetime. If we begin acting at a young age, we can help protect ourselves from premature signs of ageing and skin cancers.

Edited by Tia Xiourouppas