Burns, photo-ageing, skin cancer... Solar radiation can cause various health problems. To protect yourself from these harmful effects, we advise you to shield your skin by wearing suitable sun protection. However, many people wonder whether they should prioritise SPF skincare throughout the year. Here are our recommendations.
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Should we apply SPF all year round?
Summary
- What is SPF?
- Applying SPF skincare every day of the year: is it a good idea?
- Invest in more than just sunscreen: strengthen your protections
- Sources
Published September 26, 2021,
updated on October 2, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
4 min read
What is SPF?
The acronym SPF stands for "Sun Protection Factor", or "Facteur de Protection Solaire" (FPS) in French. This is a measure used to gauge the level of sun protection provided by a skincare product. This index also allows us to understand its effectiveness against UVB rays. These rays are the cause of sunburn, burns and skin cancers. There are four levels of SPF:
From 6 to 15 for a low protection ;
Of15 to 30for amedium protection;
From 30 to 50 for a high protection ;
Of 50+ for a very high protection.
Each index represents a percentage of UVB rays blocked. The choice of your sun protection level depends on your needs and your skin type.
Applying SPF skincare every day of the year: is it a good idea?
Many people believe that skin protection against ultraviolet rays is only necessary when exposed to the sun, and only during the summer seasons. However, the use of a care product with a sun protection factor is indeed essential, even in autumn, winter or during rainy periods, as the skin continues to be exposed to UV rays. Indeed, even if the sky is overcast, clouds allow between 80% and 95% of the sun's rays to pass through. The application of a sunscreen is particularly recommended to protect against UV, when you stay outside for more than two hours.
Invest in more than just sunscreen: strengthen your protections.
It is well known that UV radiation has adverse effects on the skin. Therefore, even with a high SPF, applying a sun care product does not fully protect you from the harmful effects of the sun's rays. Thus, in addition to using a suitable sun care product, we advise you to expose yourself to the sun in a reasonable manner: not for too long and outside of the hours when the sun is at its zenith (between 11am and 3pm).
Furthermore, in order to achieve comprehensive photo-protection, wear suitable long clothing paying attention to the type of fabric, colour, etc... Also protect your eyes with sunglasses equipped with tinted lenses capable of filtering UVA and UVB rays. Consider also fitting your windows with a solar film. This can significantly reduce the transmission of UVA rays. Little attention is given to these physical means of photo-protection, but they can make all the difference.
Sources:
BUABBAS H. & al. Photoprotection: clothing and glass. Dermatological Clinics (2014).
LIM H. W. & et al. Sunscreens: An Update. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (2017).
LINOS E. & al. Sunscreens, cancer, and protecting our planet. The Lancet Planetary Health (2018).
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