Did you know the Sun still shines in the Winter? Think about it, the winter weather brings dry skin and chapped lips, so the need to hydrate, nourish and sooth is apparent. The need to wear sun cream (winter sun cream) is as important as a preventative measure from premature ageing, melasma and the deterioration of pigmentation in the winter, as is the summer months. In fact, the UV rays omitted by the sun do not disappear in the colder months of the year and in fact up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate the clouds.
Have you often wondered how skiers suffer from skin burns and chapped lips, whilst enjoying the snow activities? This is because snow reflects the UV rays causing skin damage, so remember this every time you hear the old clique ‘black doesn’t crack’! well, it does, but it just takes a little longer compared to Caucasian skin and this is due to the resilient melanin that make people of colour who they, but they still have to put the work in. Hooray you say, so no need for (winter sun cream), don’t be fooled that natural melanin has about 8% protection, there is no winter sun cream with a SPF as little as 8%!
Excessive exposure to the UVA rays cause havoc with your collagen (the elasticity in the skin) responsible for that youthful, lifted hamster cheek effect. When we lose this precious collagen, our facial muscles start to descend downwards, carrying a few wrinkles with them. Think of an inflated balloon that gradually loses its air. People of colour inherently are taught to moisturise, and this could in fact be the reason, melanated skin ages at a slower rate, but having said that regular moisturizers do not contain sun protective factors (SPF) the protective element against the UV rays and this is no excuse not to invest in a sun care brand. Now if you are great at looking after your skin with products that contain retinol, glycolic acid and you regularly remove the dead skin cells by exfoliating, the sensitive top layer of the skin is now exposed to UV, so to avoid any irritations, complete your skin care regime with sun cream.
Leaving the C word to last, wearing sun cream is not just about the aesthetic look, some cancers are caused by a change in the DNA structure of the skin cell caused by over exposure to the sun. The Ozone layer has changed drastically in the last century and there has been an increase in younger members of society contracting skin cancers (melanoma). There are of course other preventative measures such as wearing a sun hat, taking regular shade, drinking fluids regularly, limiting the exposure between 10am – 2pm and remembering to re-apply with excessive sweating and during water activities.
There’s no such thing as ‘safe sun’ and the sun does not ‘discriminate’, 99% of dermatologists recommend wearing a minimum SPF 30, so every day of the year, wear SPF, preferably Shade of Melanin.
Copyright Shades of Melanin
Comments