UV levels decrease as you get closer to the polar regions during the winter, but does that mean you need to use less SPF?
John Bower/Alamy
This article is part of a special issue that explores important questions about skin care. Check out the entire series here.
Even if you live far from the equator, you're often told to apply sun protection factor (SPF) lotion year-round to prevent premature skin aging and wrinkles. But is this backed by solid science?
just 13.5 percent According to one study, one in every U.S. adult uses SPF cream as part of their daily routine. This is obviously a problem in the summer when the sun is at its brightest. Although we may not show any signs of burns, UV rays can penetrate deeper layers of the skin and cause damage. This not only causes wrinkles, but can also lead to skin cancer. People who wear sunscreen are at much lower risk.
Photoaging is a cumulative effect that accumulates over decades
However, the further north or south you are in latitude, the weaker these rays become in winter, so you need to balance the benefits of SPF with the cost. Brian DiffieProfessor Emeritus of Photobiology at Newcastle University in the UK points out. Using SPF in winter can cause vitamin D deficiencyfor example. SPF can also have an environmental cost, with some studies showing that SPF can end up in the ocean and its constituent chemicals can be absorbed by corals and other marine life, potentially harming them. Shown.
Diffie using past climate records The calculation method is…
Source: www.newscientist.com
