Perhaps, there are few people left who do not believe in the harmful effect of the sun's ultraviolet rays on the skin. Now even cosmetologists often recommend using creams with sunscreen factors all year round to protect the skin from premature aging, not to mention their patients who seek out a high spf index in any cream and at any time of the year. Is a cream with spf really necessary in winter, how to choose the right level of sunscreen and not harm the skin, let's try to find out from estet-portal.com.
What does the UV index mean and how to consider it when choosing a cream with spf
People's opinions about when and how to apply spf cream, if we are not talking about the beach season, are usually guided by the weather, the air temperature, the length of time spent outdoors, and even the presence of precipitation in the form of rain and sleet. Some are ready to apply a cream with an spf of at least 50 even on a gloomy February frosty day, others believe that this is absolutely superfluous in a mode of life when we make the way to work in the morning and go home in the evening at night, and sit in the office during the day. In order to simplify the choice of a reference point on which to make a decision – do you need a cream with an spf factor, the World Health Organization has introduced such a thing as a UV index.
UV index – This is a specially calculated indicator of the level of solar ultraviolet radiation. The higher the value of this index, the greater the danger of the active sun for human skin and the faster ultraviolet rays can cause harm to health.
According to WHO experts, the UV index is an important indicator of the risk of excessive sun exposure and a reminder to use sunscreen. The Ultraviolet Index (UV Index) can often be seen in weather forecasts on television, found on the Internet in relation to a particular region, and viewed in weather applications for smartphones.
For cosmetics with sun protection factors, the UV index can be applied as follows:
- UV Index 0 – 2: you can not use the cream with spf at all, regardless of the time spent outside;
- UV Index 2 – 4: you can not use sunscreen if you are outside for no longer than half an hour on a sunny day;
- UV Index 4 – 6: you should use a cream with spf 25 if you plan to walk in the sun for more than 15 minutes;
- UV Index greater than 6: it is mandatory to use sunscreen not only outdoors, but even at home or in the office if you are near an open window.
Won't spf cream hurt if applied "just in case"?
To begin with, any spf cream or other cosmetic product with sunscreen contains far fewer ingredients that are beneficial for the skin than regular cosmetics – filters take up a lot of space, leaving no space for various moisturizing and nourishing factors.
In addition, creams containing titanium oxide and zinc oxide overload the skin, mineral particles thicken the stratum corneum, which slows down exfoliation and renewal of the basement membrane.
Chemical sunscreens can oxidize when left on the skin all day and cause skin irritation.
If you are prone to allergies and have sensitive skin, it is especially important to remember that cosmetics with sunscreen chemical filters often have a rather pronounced irritating effect.
Thus, it is certainly important to protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, since it accelerates the aging process of the skin and can provoke skin cancer. But you need to strike a balance between attention to your health and phobia, which means using creams with spf if necessary, not trying to protect yourself from the sun "just in case".
Read also: The benefits and harms of the sun: how to strike a reasonable balance of protection
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