WEAR SPF ALL YEAR LONG
Fall is almost here – the days are soon going to be shorter and temperatures will be dropping. But don’t be tempted to skip the sunscreen, even if you’re staying inside. Protection from the sun is one of the most important factors of year-round skin care. Even when it’s cloudy outside and when you are inside, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your skin. This damage can cause premature aging and even cancer! Thankfully, SPF is a great buffer that can protect your skin from damage. That’s why we recommend making it a habit to apply a daily lotion or moisturizer with SPF, multiple times a day.
But you might be wondering what exactly is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and the number associated with SPF measures how well a product protects your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UVB rays. Skin care experts and the doctors at Welltopix Med Spa agree that everyone should be using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. Higher SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s UVB rays. And remember that high SPFs last the same amount of time as low SPFs. A high SPF does not allow you to spend additional time without reapplying your sunscreen. To ensure your skin is protected, we recommend reapplying about every two hours when you are outside, every 3 hours inside, and anytime after you go swimming or work up a sweat.
Don’t forget that UVB rays from the sun are the main cause of those nasty sunburns, and prolonged exposure can severely damage your skin, and potentially lead to skin cancer. Many of the visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines, are caused by the sun. UVA rays can penetrate your skin and affect how your skin rebuilds itself. But this can be avoided by using a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. If you need a recommendation for a broad spectrum SPF, check out our new Welltopix SPF 40 sun protection product.
Contact us at info@welltopixmedspa.com to set up a free consultation and a complimentary skin analysis where we will help you develop your ideal skin care routine.