SPF sun protection during winter and indoors: Why so important?

SPF sun protection typically conjures images of the summer sun. But did you know that you need to protect your skin with an SPF all year round, including during winter and even when indoors? We explain why below.

3 types of UV radiation

To begin with, there are three types of ultraviolet radiation:

• UVA radiation: this radiation is present throughout the day and causes tanning. This form of radiation can penetrate deep into the skin, damaging its collagen and elastin fibres. Because this form of radiation penetrates so deeply, it can cause mutations and, in the worst case, even lead to skin cancer. This form of radiation is responsible for the signs of premature skin aging, such as pigmentation spots and wrinkles.
• UVB radiation: UVB radiation can burn your skin and cause skin cancer. This form of radiation primarily affects the skin’s outer layers.
• UVC radiation: these rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, preventing them from reaching the earth’s surface.

Harmful UV radiation from the sun is omnipresent. It penetrates the clouds to reach the earth’s surface and our skin. The skin is consequently exposed to harmful UV rays all year round, which can result in damage.

The ozone layer acts as the earth’s ‘sunscreen’, absorbing some of the harmful UV rays. During the winter months, the ozone layer is at its thinnest and consequently absorbs less of these harmful UV rays.

That’s why it’s so important to protect your skin with an SPF on a daily basis, even during the winter months. Failure to do so can result in premature skin aging.

Your skin can be damaged, even when indoors

We recommend applying an SPF on a daily basis, even when indoors. Working from home has become the new norm and we’re spending an increasing amount of time inside. Protecting your skin might therefore not be the first thing that springs to mind. However, your skin can be damaged in the home by HEV (High-Energy Visible) light, which is emitted from smartphones, tablets, televisions and computer screens. Your skin can also be damaged via glass; whilst your windows will absorb UVB rays, harmful UVA rays can penetrate glass.

The Van Lennep Kliniek stocks a variety of SPF products, such as liquid sunscreen or mineral SPF powders and foundations. All skin requires a minimum daily SPF factor of 15 to adequately protect it, but it’s essential to tailor this SPF to your specific skin type.

Almost all skin features some type of sun damage (photoaging). Visit the Van Lennep Clinic for a non-committal intake session and we’ll take a 3D photo to identify the photodamage in the deeper layers of your skin. We’ll subsequently furnish you with a bespoke skin plan which actively tackles sun damage via a variety of treatments and tailored product advice. We’ll also explore how you can prevent future sun damage, because: prevention is better than cure!