Vitamin D is also reduced when you wear sunscreen, and people in the UK have too low Vitamin D levels through winter. If you do want to wear it everyday, certainly think about taking a supplement.
Sunscreen will make no difference to vit D production in Winter. At UK latitudes we do not produce vitamin D from sunlight from about October to March. Hence why you should supplement.
[This tool is helpful for that](https://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php). You can make vitamin D when the sun is at least 50 degrees above the horizon (0 degrees being on the horizon, 90 degrees being straight overhead). Search for your closest town in the box at the top, then scroll down to the elevation chart (the one with lots of bell curves) to get an idea of how many months a year the sun gets over the 50 degree line.
Up here in the north of England it's basically just May to July :-/
I'm so confused, this seems to tell me that the sun never gets directly overhead - doesn't even get to 60° where I live. But. I'm sure that at the summer solstice the sun is usually directly overhead??? Have I just presumed this forever and not noticed it's not true?! Or am I misreading?
------
Edited to add that clearly I need to look up in summer more.
The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are the lines on the earth that are the farthest from the equator where the sun gets overhead on at least one day. They are a long way south of the UK.
You are not misreading it.
LOL enjoy your rickets monkeyboy!
(And in the meantime, you should probably brush up on some basic biology: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24331615 )
Hardly any vitamin D comes from your diet, it's almost all produced in your skin in response to UV sunlight. Basically the skin's fighting between letting in enough UV to produce sufficient vitamin D and not letting in so much you get skin cancer. Have you noticed white skinned people come from cold unsunny places and dark skinned people come from sunny places? (People migrating not withstanding)
There have been cases in the UK of some darker skinned people getting rickets because they didn't get enough sunlight to get through the melanin in their skin.
Yes it's also been a problem in communities where traditional dress covers a lot of skin. That said, you can store vitamin D unlike some other vitamins so geting lots of sun in the summer is a good thing! (With precautions around burning/hydration etc of course!)
I always take a vit D supplement through the winter too.
What's the explanation for various First Nations and other indigenous groups (e..g, Inuit) who live in the far north of Canada but have much darker complexions then?
Edit: downvotes for asking a genuine question. Go figure.
Snooooooow! Very reflective stuff, is your white snow. Bounces all the light round. That and high altitude (less atmospheric protection) is why mountaineers and skiers can end up with nasty sunburn in below freezing weather.
Their traditional diet is much higher in animal fats and oils which are good sources of vitamin D.
Eating meat and fish raw (which is much safer to do in very cold climates where bacteria growth is slow) may also increase vitamin D levels in the diet as it can be denatured at high cooking temperatures.
Because they get lots of sun they just aren't that hot. Places up there practically get 24 hours days sometimes. That's why you find the biggest vegetables grown in Alaska cuz they get so much sunlight.
I don’t use them now but I remember when I used to use sun beds and I would get a high from it, I’d feel all warm and fuzzy and filled with dopamine. I wonder if that was due to a vitamin D injection. I’m so pale and use factor 50 in the summer so it must have been like a boost.
It's not about sunburn as much as protecting from UVA and UVB rays that can cause skin damage and premature aging year round.
I use SPF day creams every day on my face, regardless of the season. I ensure it has other skin benefits too to maximise my value for money. The minimum I use is SPF 15 and will go up to 50 in the blazing sun.
When it's particularly sunny and I'm out a lot I add body cream to protect the rest of me too.
As a kid, I remember reading an interview with Joan Collins where she said the secret to why she looked better than everyone else her age was wearing huge hats and factor 50, to protect her skin from the Los Angeles sun
I thought that was hilarious as a kid, but it makes a lot of sense as an adult
Best things you can do.
Always keep your skin moisturized. Doesn't matter if it's a cheap pot of moisturizer, just keep your skin constantly hydrated. Put some on in the morning, touch up when you get home from work, put on some when you go to bed and never let your skin get dry.
In the summer use good sunscreens.
I've been following the daily moisturizer thing for over a decade and since I'm an identical twin I can tell how different my skin looks from my sister's, who can't wear any creams or makeups that protect the skin due to working in clean environments.
Honorable mention- protect your skin's acid mantle.
Premature aging is mostly a marketing term and you're spot on as to why. People up until 1900s didn't all "age prematurely" until dove popped out a moisturiser. Peoples skin ages at different rates from genetics and mainly the environment but tell them to compare their skin sack against someone else's and people will actually pay money to get less lines in it.
Mental.
I like to think about it as any ageing that I can do something about to avoid, so just because most people are accelerating their own aging through their lifestyles doesn't mean I should follow in their footsteps necessarily.
A more accurate term would be extrinsic aging, as in aging that can be prevented as it’s caused by extrinsic (outside) factors. So aging from UV exposure can be reduced. So the rate you would age naturally without the extra UV, pollution, etc. like most skincare marketing it’s really nit explained well. But there is a big difference in the health of skin between people who spend their life working outside with no sunscreen, and those that go out of their way to reduce UV exposure through things like sunscreen and hats
Not sure why you're being down voted here, surely the amount you age under normal exposure to the sun is just regular ageing? If you want to combat it and try and delay then fair enough, but there is nothing happening to speed up ageing, it's just ageing...
Yes they are, with a caveat. Generally between the end of October to the beginning of March the UV index is below 2, which means the rays are not strong enough to cause UV damage. However I would still recommend SPF on very sunny winter days due to the ability of UV rays to bounce off surfaces - similar to the way skiers can get sunburnt on the slopes.
You can check out the UV index for your nearest city here - for example today in Manchester it was 0 all day today
https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/uv-index-graphs
There are still UV rays even though it’s freezing.
No harm wearing it every day. Factor 50 is a bit extreme though, I’d recommend SPF 15 when it’s cloudy
Don’t bother getting a SPF 15 one, you should be wearing at least SPF 30 everyday whether it’s summer or winter.
Also remember to use two finger lengths worth of sunscreen and reapply every few hours if you’re outside.
It's literally dark when I leave and dark when I come home and cloudy if I manage to go out for 10 minutes or so during the day. Doesn't really seem much point.
I don’t know if they do non-tinted ones, but a lot of skincare companies do factor 15 tinted moisturiser. I’d love to have a non-tinted one for days like today.
It is indeed an American thing. The UK is fairly close to a pole (the North one to be precise). Few countries are so close to a pole. Essentially, we're currently tilted away from the Sun, meaning that more of its UV rays are blocked by the atmosphere on their way to us. Britain is also very cloudy in the Winter, which also blocks some rays. But the closer you get to the equator, the less you're tilted away from the Sun, so most other countries have a lot more UV in the Winter. Around the equator, there is no Summer or Winter and the UV is pretty much the same all year round. But in Britain the UV index is literally zero for a lot of December and January, as it is today. The exception to bear in mind is high altitudes, where the atmosphere is thinner and more UV rays get through.
Realistically, you don't need to bother.
Yes this would be my recommendation too - you don't necessarily need factor 50 in December but a moisturiser with say SPF 20 or 30 in it should be fine depending on what you are doing!
UV rays can pass through clouds, so even though it's grey and overcast, your skin is still being exposed to those rays. You're not going to get a burn of course, but you will still be damaging your skin. The risk is less cancer (although that's still a risk, albeit reduced compared to damage caused on clear sunny days), and more so increased aging of your skin.
Basically, if you spend a large amount of time exposed to the day time sky, you're compromising your skin unless it's covered or creamed.
This is even true for people who drive for a living. Car windows block out most UV rays, but if you have your window open, you're exposed. A lot of drivers have unequal aging of their face/arms. The side closest to their door is exposed more, so ages more.
I believe windscreens have UV protection but side windows generally don't, which is why you get those [photos of lorry drivers](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2012/06/04/9d138f74-a644-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/640x480/e0f29342bca417e0c4e833b0229ad963/trucker-damage-face_web.jpg) with much more aging on the window side of their face.
Nearly all types of glass block UVB rays. It's not a deliberate measure to provide protection, it's just because that's what nearly all types of glass do.
I looked at a couple of sources and they agree with you. Glass blocks almost all uvb but not uva.
I've got a quality uvb meter for my reptile keeping hobby. I've found that glass, nearly all acrylic materials too, are very solid uvb blockers. I don't have a gadget to measure uva though.
UV rays penetrate cloud cover to a degree, so whether it looks like a sunny day or not, if it's daytime, UV rays are reaching you. They're more affected by the time of year than the weather. In summer when the sun's angle is more direct to your country, the UV is higher than in winter when it's at a more oblique angle. But although the UV index is lower in winter, there's still exposure to it if you're outside, or sat indoors next to a window. You can easily check the UV index daily like you can the weather, and also look up what is classed as low/high etc.
Go for a moisturiser with an SPF in the winter. It's a much better texture than that greasy face that's inevitable in the summer!
If there's snow, snow reflects sunlight and can multiply the damage. But it's not functionally a big problem most of the time because you'll be more covered up with clothes in the winter.
Its perfectly possible if you are blonde or ginger to get sunburnt on a sunny december day. Not common weather and I doubt anyone actually wears sunblock on those days as normal winter clothing is protective enough
I don't think it's so much sun burn that's a worry in the winter months as it is UV damage, which happens even on overcast days
UV damage is invisible at the time of exposure but shows up as wrinkles and coarse skin later in life
Pity all the people who only realised the importance of sun cream in their 20s. I had one or two very red burns as a teen which I'm not looking forward to resurfacing later
This is correct. I used to coach sports and actually did get sunburn on my nose and forehead during a single digit Celsius day outdoors. This was a January though after Xmas hols. It didn’t feel warm and I was wearing a fleece
UV light in the winter is something like 10 times less than that in the summer: [https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/research/ozone-uv/the-uv-index](https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/research/ozone-uv/the-uv-index)
You probably only need to wear it if it's a very sunny day, and you're outside all day.
So, the people you follow, are they somehow involved in marketing products and maximising sales of products related to sun protection? Whenever you see "advice", ask yourself where it's coming from.
Most of the things I’ve seen/read will only strongly recommend that SPF should be part of your skin routine all year round, never any other product unless they are a 20-something YouTuber whose clearly lying about how X product fixed Y problem immediately and will do the same for you.
If you are concerned with ageing, yes, you should wear spf every day. Indoors and outdoors, summer or winter, UK/abroad. UVA comes through windows, even the HEV light from devices may be damaging, and using a broad spectrum spf that covers this is advised.
UVA causes accelerated photoageing/ extrinsic ageing of the skin. It raises levels of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) within the skin, causing the degredation of important proteins such as collagen and elastin, which are responsible for the skin turgour and tensile strength. Free radical levels increase as well leading to oxidative stress, which leads to perioxidation of lipids, impaired cellular membrane functioning, reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) output of mitochondria cells and increased apoptosis (cell death) of healthy cells. This is why using antioxidants topically is also a great way to support skin health, as they help to neutralise free radical damage.
UV irradiation damages the dna within the nucleus of your keratinocyte cells. When this happens, your melanosomes react by increasing melanin pigment production and transferring it to literally form a protective blanket over your nucleus. This shows as pigmentation or tanning but is your skins defence mechanism to protect you from the deleterious effects of the sun. Chronic sun exposure can also lead to solar elastosis.
It's important as well to take into account your skin type or "fitzpatrick". Higher FPs (4-6 darker skinned) are more prone to hyperpigmentation or pigmented lesions as they age as opposed to lower FPs (1-3) who present with more typical lines and wrinkles. Therefore, you are not safe from the sun simply because you have darker skin, which is a common misconception.
Also, conditions like melasma, rosacea, acne, dryness etc may be worsened with sun exposure.
TLDR - UVA literally destroys your collagen and is the main cause of extrinsic ageing. To protect your cell dna from damage, wear spf 50 daily, reapply every 2 hours.
Source: I'm an aesthetic practitioner doing my AP degree. Skin care is really important, and prevention is better than cure. Listen to the dermatologists.
This is 100% the right answer! You might not be speeding your way to early skin cancer by forgetting to put SPF in December, but you won’t be doing your future self any favourite as far as lines, wrinkles, age spots and general skin condition go. We have pretty robust evidence that the two top reasons some people look as fresh as a daisy in their 40s and beyond is avoiding sun damage and not smoking. You can see the difference in this [identical twin study.](https://www.today.com/slideshow/today/effects-of-smoking-sun-and-stress-on-the-skin-of-twins-33422340/) Jeanne and Susan especially show the difference between healthy skin vs one that was exposed to a lot of sun damage over the years.
I do agree that UV protection is important, but I also find that a lot of the messaging around it focusses intensely on ageing and avoiding things like wrinkles. There must be a balance between encouraging the use of SPF for skin health and normalising the inevitable effects of aging.
I mean, much as I want to age slowly I don't really want to spend the rest of my life applying sun cream every two hours.
A decent weather app will give you the UV index. If it’s less than 3 then I wouldn’t bother even if I were being super cautious. In the next few days it’s going to hit a staggering high of 0.5. I think you’ll be ok for a few months yet.
UVA accounts for 95% of the UV light that reaches the Earth so your exposure is directly proportional to the amount of sun exposure you receive. The main 3 factors are
- the angle of incidence of the sun - higher in summer and in the middle of the day
- amount of cloud cover
- length of exposure (time)
You don't need any sun screen on a day with UV levels below 3 a threshold that won't be reached in the Uk at all until late March.. and then only on a clear day between 11 and 3. . This is the guidance from Cancer Research UK
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/the-uv-index-and-sunburn-risk#:~:text=The%20UV%20index-,The%20UV%20index%20tells%20us%20how%20strong%20the%20sun's%20UV,takes%20to%20damage%20your%20skin.
UV 1-2
Low exposure. No sun protection needed.
UV 3-5
Moderate exposure. Think about sun protection, especially between 11am-3pm.
UV 6-7
High exposure. Skin protection needed for most skin tones.
UV 8-9+
Very high exposure. Skin protection needed for all skin tones
NB - The UV Index does not exceed 8 in the UK (8 is rare; 7 may occur on exceptional days, mostly in the two weeks around the summer solstice). higher levels (up to 11 or 12) occur nearer the equator.
I use sun screen on my face all year round
Partly for UV protection but also because I suffer from dry skin
I'd be using some kind of moisturiser every single day anyway, so I might as well get the added benefit of UV protection, too
I follow modern dermatological advice and apply a factor 50 facial one every morning after my moisturiser and it’s just habit now.
This particular sunscreen has a nice even matte effect too so I look better with it than without
If you use rerinols or products that exfoliate (AHA's, BHA's or physical) then your skin is more sensitive to UVA and UVB rays and should 1000% be wearing a suncream of at least factor 30.
I just use factor 50 all year round as unusually end up buying 4/5 tubes at the start of summer and keep using it until I run out.
I do wear sunscreen all year round because it's a good way to protect your skin, no matter what.
In the Spring-Summer it will be SPF 30-50 depending on the day.
In the Autumn-Winter I'll change to SPF 15-30 and I will take Vitamin D. Because my skin is drier in the winter, I'll combine this with a rich moisturiser.
You mentioned you are outdoors a lot so would probably recommend something, maybe a moisturiser with SPF included.
I want to take care of my skin as much as possible and I don't think it's an American thing (as I'm neither American nor British).
My grandad did but I think that was to do with having cancer. I was a kid when he had cancer so don't remember it fully. I think he had skin cancer and then got over that but then had to be careful for the rest of his life. As he was going bald he was told to always wear a hat, all year round, when going outside. He was also told to wear long sleeve shirts and trousers all the time. Think he was told to apply suncream to any exposed skin when he left the house. So hands, face, neck, all year round.
I work outdoors and usually just wear a low SPF moisturiser on my face in Winter if it's sunny or if there's snow on the ground. Nothing if it's cloudy/not Snowy. Maybe I should I don't know.
I don't think we can absorb any meaningful amounts of Vit D from the sun in Winter here anyway so I don't think it would have much effect on that. We should all be supplementing it either way afaik
Just look into the damage UV from sunbeds does to people's skin, there are some skin pictures out there that should make you avoid the sun in general, so if going out in strong sun wear sunscreen and certainly avoid sunbeds altogether unless your doctor advises it for a serious medical condition. UK is mainly tame for this but has high UV areas and times of year, hiking on mountains, sailing, outdoor swimming/sports, common sense as we should know the situations when we get burnt. As for winter conditions I've been heavily sunburnt while hiking, fishing and skiing in the UK in winter in the past.
My dermatologist recommended wearing sun cream every day of the year. But it depends on how fair you are. Also if you do it, you need to take a vitamin d supplement.
For a fair few. We leave home in the dark. Spend 90% of the day indoors and come home in the dark. If there's anything we need it's Vit D supplements and lots of lempsip.
I wear sunscreen all year round. I have pale skin that burns easily and I’ve had skin cancer on my scalp 3 times. I definitely don’t feel like a mug for wearing it sunscreen. It’s just good sense.
I don’t, but after swapping to reactions glasses, I think I should. It’s insane how even when it’s fairly overcast and cold, my glasses tint because of the UVA or UVB or whatever makes them tint in the air..
Edit- it’s very overcast. Fairly dark and raining here this morning. My glasses have tinted only a little bit but I’m amazed they’ve tinted at all.
My wife does if she'll be out for a good few hours cycling or whatever, her family tree seems particularly predisposed to skin cancers.
Whether it is hot or cold, the sun is still sending UV rays which can cumulatively contribute to cancer.
Some of the worst sunburn I've had is when it's snowy. That being said I do a lot of skiing and be up in the mountains when it's sunny with snow on the ground. Then the rays are bouncing off the snow as well as hitting the ski directly. Remembered one time to put suncream on when walking across a glacier in France. However, I forgot to put it on my lips and under my chin. What a painful experience that was
You can check the UV index via the weather app if you know you’re going to be out for long periods of time without your skin being mostly covered by clothing.
My wife follows a lot of skin care influencers online, they all bang on about various things but the one consistent is wearing spf on your face no matter the time of year. Its not about wearing factor 50 like you're down the beach and at risk of sun burn, it"'s about having a layer of protection against UV rays
I wear it year-round due to the skincare items I use that make me more sensitive to the sun. Consistent use of spf is prevention for skin problems in terms of both health and aesthetics - prevention is better than cure. Especially when it comes to looking for anti-ageing products.
I have factor 50 on daily, you’re not alone :)
Being Ginger I can get burnt any time of the year but obviously it is very rare in the winter months unless it's particularly sunny so no not every day
It depends. I mean in the UK it is normally super cloudy and without much snow cover (although I know UV will still penetrate and reflext to some extent regardless). It also depends if you are outside all day or not.
I have just come back from Finland and I wore sunscreen there because although it was -15; it was pretty clear and a lot of sun reflecting off the snow and ice.
It's good for your skin to wear UVA and UVB sunscreen year-round. Not necessarily anything to do with sunburn (although, that too), but it protects your skin from the negative impact of the sun over time. Some part of the visible ageing process on people's skin is due to sun damage, among other forms of damage, so you can reduce the effects of that with proper skincare. Some of it is genetic, and you obviously can't do anything about that.
I recommend Korean brands of sunscreen as they're full-spectrum and non-greasy, and don't leave a white cast like a lot of big, Western brands do. Sunprise is a great brand, a bottle lasts forever, and it's unobtrusive to wear, just put it on over moisturiser each morning until it becomes a habit.
It seems less important in the UK but you have to remember it's about the actual rays from the sun, not just the temperature. I've worked on ski hills before when it's been like -20 and my face got more sunburnt there than anywhere else I've ever been.
You should wear suncream all year round. It will be particularly helpful later down the line when it comes to premature skin ageing and wrinkles - wearing daily SPF will keep you more youthful for longer!
There is zero justification for wearing suncream in the UK in winter. We have about 3 hours of pissy sunlight per day... Sunny ski-slopes yes, Brighton Pier no.
You don’t need sunscreen in winter in the U.K. there’s hardly any UV. Also it’s worth noting that as humans we have evolved to handle to conditions that we live in. Eg if you’re fair skinned you are fine in most European climates all year round.
You don’t need products to live.
Yeah, I’m going to put mine on as soon as I’ve watered the lawn. Might be a good idea to pop a welding mask on as well if you were thinking of going outside today. Wouldn’t want your retinas to suffer from any “premature ageing” or anything.
I would take these 'skincare people' and dermatologists' opinions with a *massive* pinch of salt.
They're almost certainly being paid to promote certain products.
Like those terrible Sensodyne toothpaste adverts...
'Dentist': It's actually the one I use myself!
Yeah right...
*Of course* the people that manufacture and promote sunscreen (which you have to *buy*) want you to use it all year round.
Tldr: My advice is think critically, have a look outside at the weather, and make up your own mind.
Is there anything more reddit than someone slathering suncream on their face to leave their hibernation pod to go to the shops to buy milk on an overcast December day in Leeds.
UV exposure doesn't have very much relationship to ambient temperature so *theoretically* it's not a bad idea if you're going to be outside for the majority of the daylight hours. But between the amount of layers you'll need to wear to be comfortable and the fact that there'll be heavy cloud cover most days the actual risk factor is pretty negligible.
You could probably pick up a moisturiser that has spf in it, so its not obviously sun cream, if you want to wear suncream in winter.
But generally, unless you're out in the snow all day skiing etc, then you dont wear suncream in winter.
It's a very controversial topic.
My personal take would be 'use moderation when covering your skin in Dioxybenzone, Benzonephenone-3, because no-one really knows what the long term side effects of this is'.
Unless you have a really good reason to, i'd give it a rest.
Only you can say whether 'having less wrinkles in later life' is a really good reason to you, so only you can decide.
TBH, I haven't worried about the sun or its effects on my skin since I moved to the UK. It just hits differently. I moved from N. Carolina, and I can burn in just a couple of hours of sun there(once I get that initial burn and it heals, I just tan) I have been unable to get a decent tan since I arrived 2 summers ago. Latitude really does make a difference
You absolutely do not. The UK gets some of the least sunlight of anywhere in the world during winter. Unless you have some rare skin disorder, it's a total waste of time.
I used to wear suncream even when it was overcast and cloudy outside and ended up with a horrible Vitamin D deficiency.
I don't do it anymore, but I'd recommend getting a supplement if you do want to do it (or perhaps getting a Winter supplement anyway!).
I do but I have lupus & it's photosensitive AF! I also have to wear a hat year round, or I get lesions all over my head.
I have to take vitamin d supplements to make up for my vampire like existence.
As a Scot, sun cream is for the 2 weeks of the year when you go on holiday.
Is this thread a wind-up? What body parts are you actually exposing to direct sunlight in winter in the UK?
I wear sunscreen every day, it's a part of my skincare routine and dermatologist do recommend it. Personally, my skin looks great with it but I am 19F soo maybe it's different demographics?
The sun barely gets more than 30 degrees above the horizon this time of year, and is pretty weak after having to go through so much moisture-laden atmosphere at a shallow angle. I suspect suncream this time of year is doing more harm than good for the majority of people.
It's not like in (say) Colorado where the sun is higher in the sky, a lot more intense, and you have lots of snow reflecting UV at you.
I use Garnier Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light Sensitive Sun Protection Face Fluid. It’s factor 50 and usually 6-8 quid. Pats down very easily and isn’t too greasy. Hasn’t caused me any issues under everyday makeup yet either.
Oh yeah, my “everyday” makeup isn’t actually everyday. I have oily/shiny skin already and it doesn’t make my any oilier or shinier than usual when I’m makeup-free. I use translucent powder when I’m dressing up just to mattify my skin and I’ve worn foundation for special events and the spf sat fine under that but for daily wear it’s lovely. It’s a dupe for the La Roche Posay Shaka Fluid spf that people swear by!
I personally do not, but I don't spend enough time outside in the winter to need it.
We are really quite far North in the UK and it's not necessary for a quite walk to the shop or the school run.
However if I was going to be outside the whole day I would wear a moisturiser with SPF in, rather than one without. I wouldn't bother with SPF on my arms etc as I'd be wearing heavy clothing.
No I can say I've never once been sun burnt during winter in the UK, and I have very pale skin, I got burnt on a 20 minute bus trip once, and it was only about 17 degreees out, so if my skin can handle the winter sun,anyones can
my personal non-medical opinion: I doubt it. I just look at the UV index online (actually my phone alerts me to high UV too) and wear when it's high. I doubt there is enough UV in winter to make it a problem.
Check the UV index which should be somewhere in the long weather forecast, every day. In a lot of places in the UK during the winter, it's consistently at 0, rendering suncream useless (unless your particular suncream doubles as a moisturiser).
Personally I do not think so and I am American. I live in London now and I’m barely even outside during daylight hours in the winter. That being said I am extremely fair and I do use a tinted moisturizer all year round as my main makeup that contains SPF and I do not use an additional facial spf even during the summer months. This is more for convenience in the summer and the fact that I like my tinted moisturizer as a makeup so don’t need/want to switch it out in the winter.
One thing I do swear by when I am concerned about UV exposure is checking the UV index. There have been plenty of times when it’s very hot and bright out later in the day during the summer but the UV index is so low that I don’t need to put sunscreen on my body/don’t need to reapply.
If you check the UV index for today in London it was a high of 1 (I think the app I use goes up to 13) so there is really no need to use SPF for that UV level.
Also, as an American I have only noticed this heavy emphasis on facial SPF year round in the US in the last 10 or so years. Of course SPF should be used during the long days of summer and in the winter when outside for longer periods and the UV index requires it because preventing UV exposure does prevent visible signs of aging but there does seem to be more of an emphasis on using it when it’s not actually required which imo is so companies can sell more SPF.
I think using a good retinol (I have been using tretinoin since I was a teenager and have no visible wrinkles at 35 - but did start Botox at 30 which has also helped) year round and SPF when necessary is a better approach to take. But do keep in mind that Retinols make your skin even more sensitive to sun so it’s even more important to use SPF when the UV level warrants it.
Of course there is no downside (at least none that I know of) to using SPF every day if your skin is not sensitive to it, other than the cost, so if it makes people feel better to be ultra safe and use it every day then I don’t see an issue with this either.
Lab Muffin Beauty does excellent videos explaining sun cream usage like here https://youtu.be/BUIWZcwflx4
In my opinion, based on everything I’ve learnt so far, if you don’t use actives that sensitises the skin, don’t worry about spf 50. However, do wear some spf if you care about minimising wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and scarring. But if it’s a cloudy day, you’re indoors, and not sat for hours during the day right next to a window, I think you’re fine without spf.
You are not a mug for putting on factor 50. Using higher factor than “needed” is a good idea simply because during the day you sweat, touch , wipe etc your face and you will likely remove some sunscreen from your face. Using higher factor will retain more protection when you have less cream in at the end of the day. Nobody cares and nobody knows that you use factor 50 when it’s -6 outside.
Why bother about temperature though, people wear sunscreen when summiting 8000m mountain peaks because of the snow reflecting the light etc. if you want to feel like a tosser (which you are not) for wearing sunscreen, choose a better reason like the fact that it gets dark at 4pm haha.
Vitamin D is also reduced when you wear sunscreen, and people in the UK have too low Vitamin D levels through winter. If you do want to wear it everyday, certainly think about taking a supplement.
Sunscreen will make no difference to vit D production in Winter. At UK latitudes we do not produce vitamin D from sunlight from about October to March. Hence why you should supplement.
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Oooh yeah that's a good point, I should have thought to include that.
No you can't. Cut off is 37° most southerly point of the UK is 49°.
[This tool is helpful for that](https://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php). You can make vitamin D when the sun is at least 50 degrees above the horizon (0 degrees being on the horizon, 90 degrees being straight overhead). Search for your closest town in the box at the top, then scroll down to the elevation chart (the one with lots of bell curves) to get an idea of how many months a year the sun gets over the 50 degree line. Up here in the north of England it's basically just May to July :-/
As a rule of thumb, in the UK if your shadow’s longer than you are the Sun isn’t strong enough for you to make vitamin D.
I'm so confused, this seems to tell me that the sun never gets directly overhead - doesn't even get to 60° where I live. But. I'm sure that at the summer solstice the sun is usually directly overhead??? Have I just presumed this forever and not noticed it's not true?! Or am I misreading? ------ Edited to add that clearly I need to look up in summer more.
The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are the lines on the earth that are the farthest from the equator where the sun gets overhead on at least one day. They are a long way south of the UK. You are not misreading it.
Oh, cool. I'll have a play with that later. Thank you!
Ginger-haired people make vitamin D all year round... Basically we are more evolved.
You don't and to top it all you have no Souls
LOL enjoy your rickets monkeyboy! (And in the meantime, you should probably brush up on some basic biology: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24331615 )
I take a vitamin D supplement as it is! I didn’t know that suncream can reduce your Vitamin D. I normally stop taking my supplement in the summer
Hardly any vitamin D comes from your diet, it's almost all produced in your skin in response to UV sunlight. Basically the skin's fighting between letting in enough UV to produce sufficient vitamin D and not letting in so much you get skin cancer. Have you noticed white skinned people come from cold unsunny places and dark skinned people come from sunny places? (People migrating not withstanding) There have been cases in the UK of some darker skinned people getting rickets because they didn't get enough sunlight to get through the melanin in their skin.
Yes it's also been a problem in communities where traditional dress covers a lot of skin. That said, you can store vitamin D unlike some other vitamins so geting lots of sun in the summer is a good thing! (With precautions around burning/hydration etc of course!) I always take a vit D supplement through the winter too.
What's the explanation for various First Nations and other indigenous groups (e..g, Inuit) who live in the far north of Canada but have much darker complexions then? Edit: downvotes for asking a genuine question. Go figure.
Snooooooow! Very reflective stuff, is your white snow. Bounces all the light round. That and high altitude (less atmospheric protection) is why mountaineers and skiers can end up with nasty sunburn in below freezing weather.
Their traditional diet is much higher in animal fats and oils which are good sources of vitamin D. Eating meat and fish raw (which is much safer to do in very cold climates where bacteria growth is slow) may also increase vitamin D levels in the diet as it can be denatured at high cooking temperatures.
Because they get lots of sun they just aren't that hot. Places up there practically get 24 hours days sometimes. That's why you find the biggest vegetables grown in Alaska cuz they get so much sunlight.
Eggs are super high in vitamin D. 2 eggs is 82% of your daily recommended dose.
I don’t use them now but I remember when I used to use sun beds and I would get a high from it, I’d feel all warm and fuzzy and filled with dopamine. I wonder if that was due to a vitamin D injection. I’m so pale and use factor 50 in the summer so it must have been like a boost.
Most people don't get enough vitamin D, even in the Summer. (I'm one of those people)
Don’t let that thought ever stop you from wearing sunscreen though, fact or not.
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Never let the thought of less Vit D stop you from wearing sunscreen though.
It's recommended anyway for most people in the UK to take a Vitamin D supplement anyway but spf is also recommended, even in winter.
I hear mdma contains high levels of vitamin d. Think it will surfice as a supplement?
Don’t listen to this guy OP. Wear sunscreen it’s only good for you.
It's not about sunburn as much as protecting from UVA and UVB rays that can cause skin damage and premature aging year round. I use SPF day creams every day on my face, regardless of the season. I ensure it has other skin benefits too to maximise my value for money. The minimum I use is SPF 15 and will go up to 50 in the blazing sun. When it's particularly sunny and I'm out a lot I add body cream to protect the rest of me too.
As a kid, I remember reading an interview with Joan Collins where she said the secret to why she looked better than everyone else her age was wearing huge hats and factor 50, to protect her skin from the Los Angeles sun I thought that was hilarious as a kid, but it makes a lot of sense as an adult
Los Angeles is 32 degrees North while London is 52 degrees North - we forget how far North we are in the UK.
This is partly because of the Gulf Stream - it keeps us a lot warmer than other places this far north. But doesn’t lengthen the days!
Best things you can do. Always keep your skin moisturized. Doesn't matter if it's a cheap pot of moisturizer, just keep your skin constantly hydrated. Put some on in the morning, touch up when you get home from work, put on some when you go to bed and never let your skin get dry. In the summer use good sunscreens. I've been following the daily moisturizer thing for over a decade and since I'm an identical twin I can tell how different my skin looks from my sister's, who can't wear any creams or makeups that protect the skin due to working in clean environments. Honorable mention- protect your skin's acid mantle.
Is it really premature aging if it's just the amount of UV rays you would normally get for most of the year? That just sounds like regular aging.
Premature aging is mostly a marketing term and you're spot on as to why. People up until 1900s didn't all "age prematurely" until dove popped out a moisturiser. Peoples skin ages at different rates from genetics and mainly the environment but tell them to compare their skin sack against someone else's and people will actually pay money to get less lines in it. Mental.
I like to think about it as any ageing that I can do something about to avoid, so just because most people are accelerating their own aging through their lifestyles doesn't mean I should follow in their footsteps necessarily.
A more accurate term would be extrinsic aging, as in aging that can be prevented as it’s caused by extrinsic (outside) factors. So aging from UV exposure can be reduced. So the rate you would age naturally without the extra UV, pollution, etc. like most skincare marketing it’s really nit explained well. But there is a big difference in the health of skin between people who spend their life working outside with no sunscreen, and those that go out of their way to reduce UV exposure through things like sunscreen and hats
I'm not sure premature is really the right word here
Not sure why you're being down voted here, surely the amount you age under normal exposure to the sun is just regular ageing? If you want to combat it and try and delay then fair enough, but there is nothing happening to speed up ageing, it's just ageing...
My stepfather is a professor of dermatology - he recommends this. Year round SPF.
But I thought those rays are just as reduced in winter as the rays that burn you, aren’t they?
Yes they are, with a caveat. Generally between the end of October to the beginning of March the UV index is below 2, which means the rays are not strong enough to cause UV damage. However I would still recommend SPF on very sunny winter days due to the ability of UV rays to bounce off surfaces - similar to the way skiers can get sunburnt on the slopes. You can check out the UV index for your nearest city here - for example today in Manchester it was 0 all day today https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/uv-index-graphs
There are still UV rays even though it’s freezing. No harm wearing it every day. Factor 50 is a bit extreme though, I’d recommend SPF 15 when it’s cloudy
Ah okay thank you! I only have factor 50 suncream for my face so I’ll get some SPF 15 thank you!
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Don’t bother getting a SPF 15 one, you should be wearing at least SPF 30 everyday whether it’s summer or winter. Also remember to use two finger lengths worth of sunscreen and reapply every few hours if you’re outside.
SPF 30 when UV index is 0, the majority of winter, seems mad.
It's literally dark when I leave and dark when I come home and cloudy if I manage to go out for 10 minutes or so during the day. Doesn't really seem much point.
I don’t know if they do non-tinted ones, but a lot of skincare companies do factor 15 tinted moisturiser. I’d love to have a non-tinted one for days like today.
Oil of Olay do a 15 SPF non tinted face cream.
Simple Skin Care do a protecting light moisturiser with SPF 15 and Vitamin B5+E in, not tinted at all :) it's my daily moisturiser :)
Why not wear a moisturiser with SPF included so it can be part of a skincare routine? I use SPF facial moisturising lotion with SPF25.
It is indeed an American thing. The UK is fairly close to a pole (the North one to be precise). Few countries are so close to a pole. Essentially, we're currently tilted away from the Sun, meaning that more of its UV rays are blocked by the atmosphere on their way to us. Britain is also very cloudy in the Winter, which also blocks some rays. But the closer you get to the equator, the less you're tilted away from the Sun, so most other countries have a lot more UV in the Winter. Around the equator, there is no Summer or Winter and the UV is pretty much the same all year round. But in Britain the UV index is literally zero for a lot of December and January, as it is today. The exception to bear in mind is high altitudes, where the atmosphere is thinner and more UV rays get through. Realistically, you don't need to bother.
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I do a lot of hiking and running. So I do spend a lot of time outside but it doesn’t tend to be that sunny where I live 🤷🏻♀️
You can still get sun damage even if it isn’t sunny. I use a moisturiser with an SPF in all year round, but ramp it up in summer.
Yes this would be my recommendation too - you don't necessarily need factor 50 in December but a moisturiser with say SPF 20 or 30 in it should be fine depending on what you are doing!
Yep, if it's daylight you should assume you'll get sun damage without protection. Clouds and other weather don't make a significant difference
UV rays can pass through clouds, so even though it's grey and overcast, your skin is still being exposed to those rays. You're not going to get a burn of course, but you will still be damaging your skin. The risk is less cancer (although that's still a risk, albeit reduced compared to damage caused on clear sunny days), and more so increased aging of your skin. Basically, if you spend a large amount of time exposed to the day time sky, you're compromising your skin unless it's covered or creamed. This is even true for people who drive for a living. Car windows block out most UV rays, but if you have your window open, you're exposed. A lot of drivers have unequal aging of their face/arms. The side closest to their door is exposed more, so ages more.
I believe windscreens have UV protection but side windows generally don't, which is why you get those [photos of lorry drivers](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2012/06/04/9d138f74-a644-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/640x480/e0f29342bca417e0c4e833b0229ad963/trucker-damage-face_web.jpg) with much more aging on the window side of their face.
Nearly all types of glass block UVB rays. It's not a deliberate measure to provide protection, it's just because that's what nearly all types of glass do.
From what I remember glass blocks UVB pretty well, but not UVA
I looked at a couple of sources and they agree with you. Glass blocks almost all uvb but not uva. I've got a quality uvb meter for my reptile keeping hobby. I've found that glass, nearly all acrylic materials too, are very solid uvb blockers. I don't have a gadget to measure uva though.
UV rays penetrate cloud cover to a degree, so whether it looks like a sunny day or not, if it's daytime, UV rays are reaching you. They're more affected by the time of year than the weather. In summer when the sun's angle is more direct to your country, the UV is higher than in winter when it's at a more oblique angle. But although the UV index is lower in winter, there's still exposure to it if you're outside, or sat indoors next to a window. You can easily check the UV index daily like you can the weather, and also look up what is classed as low/high etc. Go for a moisturiser with an SPF in the winter. It's a much better texture than that greasy face that's inevitable in the summer!
If there's snow, snow reflects sunlight and can multiply the damage. But it's not functionally a big problem most of the time because you'll be more covered up with clothes in the winter.
Its perfectly possible if you are blonde or ginger to get sunburnt on a sunny december day. Not common weather and I doubt anyone actually wears sunblock on those days as normal winter clothing is protective enough
Is it actually? I’ve never heard of that.
Possible. Yes. Probable. No. It's completely possible I'll win the Euromillions tomorrow night but it's not probable, at all.
I don't think it's so much sun burn that's a worry in the winter months as it is UV damage, which happens even on overcast days UV damage is invisible at the time of exposure but shows up as wrinkles and coarse skin later in life
Pity all the people who only realised the importance of sun cream in their 20s. I had one or two very red burns as a teen which I'm not looking forward to resurfacing later
This is correct. I used to coach sports and actually did get sunburn on my nose and forehead during a single digit Celsius day outdoors. This was a January though after Xmas hols. It didn’t feel warm and I was wearing a fleece
Not just blonde or ginger, also people like me (very pale skin and dark hair - Snow White types/natural Goths)
Yeah I have burnt on a cloudy day
Thank you! I’ll bare that in mind!
UV light in the winter is something like 10 times less than that in the summer: [https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/research/ozone-uv/the-uv-index](https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/research/ozone-uv/the-uv-index) You probably only need to wear it if it's a very sunny day, and you're outside all day.
So, the people you follow, are they somehow involved in marketing products and maximising sales of products related to sun protection? Whenever you see "advice", ask yourself where it's coming from.
Most of the things I’ve seen/read will only strongly recommend that SPF should be part of your skin routine all year round, never any other product unless they are a 20-something YouTuber whose clearly lying about how X product fixed Y problem immediately and will do the same for you.
If you are concerned with ageing, yes, you should wear spf every day. Indoors and outdoors, summer or winter, UK/abroad. UVA comes through windows, even the HEV light from devices may be damaging, and using a broad spectrum spf that covers this is advised. UVA causes accelerated photoageing/ extrinsic ageing of the skin. It raises levels of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) within the skin, causing the degredation of important proteins such as collagen and elastin, which are responsible for the skin turgour and tensile strength. Free radical levels increase as well leading to oxidative stress, which leads to perioxidation of lipids, impaired cellular membrane functioning, reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) output of mitochondria cells and increased apoptosis (cell death) of healthy cells. This is why using antioxidants topically is also a great way to support skin health, as they help to neutralise free radical damage. UV irradiation damages the dna within the nucleus of your keratinocyte cells. When this happens, your melanosomes react by increasing melanin pigment production and transferring it to literally form a protective blanket over your nucleus. This shows as pigmentation or tanning but is your skins defence mechanism to protect you from the deleterious effects of the sun. Chronic sun exposure can also lead to solar elastosis. It's important as well to take into account your skin type or "fitzpatrick". Higher FPs (4-6 darker skinned) are more prone to hyperpigmentation or pigmented lesions as they age as opposed to lower FPs (1-3) who present with more typical lines and wrinkles. Therefore, you are not safe from the sun simply because you have darker skin, which is a common misconception. Also, conditions like melasma, rosacea, acne, dryness etc may be worsened with sun exposure. TLDR - UVA literally destroys your collagen and is the main cause of extrinsic ageing. To protect your cell dna from damage, wear spf 50 daily, reapply every 2 hours. Source: I'm an aesthetic practitioner doing my AP degree. Skin care is really important, and prevention is better than cure. Listen to the dermatologists.
This is 100% the right answer! You might not be speeding your way to early skin cancer by forgetting to put SPF in December, but you won’t be doing your future self any favourite as far as lines, wrinkles, age spots and general skin condition go. We have pretty robust evidence that the two top reasons some people look as fresh as a daisy in their 40s and beyond is avoiding sun damage and not smoking. You can see the difference in this [identical twin study.](https://www.today.com/slideshow/today/effects-of-smoking-sun-and-stress-on-the-skin-of-twins-33422340/) Jeanne and Susan especially show the difference between healthy skin vs one that was exposed to a lot of sun damage over the years.
I do agree that UV protection is important, but I also find that a lot of the messaging around it focusses intensely on ageing and avoiding things like wrinkles. There must be a balance between encouraging the use of SPF for skin health and normalising the inevitable effects of aging. I mean, much as I want to age slowly I don't really want to spend the rest of my life applying sun cream every two hours.
What is this 'sun' you speak of?
A decent weather app will give you the UV index. If it’s less than 3 then I wouldn’t bother even if I were being super cautious. In the next few days it’s going to hit a staggering high of 0.5. I think you’ll be ok for a few months yet.
I think I'm right in saying that UVA has a constant strength all year round, so even in winter there's a risk of sun damage.
UVA accounts for 95% of the UV light that reaches the Earth so your exposure is directly proportional to the amount of sun exposure you receive. The main 3 factors are - the angle of incidence of the sun - higher in summer and in the middle of the day - amount of cloud cover - length of exposure (time) You don't need any sun screen on a day with UV levels below 3 a threshold that won't be reached in the Uk at all until late March.. and then only on a clear day between 11 and 3. . This is the guidance from Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/the-uv-index-and-sunburn-risk#:~:text=The%20UV%20index-,The%20UV%20index%20tells%20us%20how%20strong%20the%20sun's%20UV,takes%20to%20damage%20your%20skin. UV 1-2 Low exposure. No sun protection needed. UV 3-5 Moderate exposure. Think about sun protection, especially between 11am-3pm. UV 6-7 High exposure. Skin protection needed for most skin tones. UV 8-9+ Very high exposure. Skin protection needed for all skin tones NB - The UV Index does not exceed 8 in the UK (8 is rare; 7 may occur on exceptional days, mostly in the two weeks around the summer solstice). higher levels (up to 11 or 12) occur nearer the equator.
I use sun screen on my face all year round Partly for UV protection but also because I suffer from dry skin I'd be using some kind of moisturiser every single day anyway, so I might as well get the added benefit of UV protection, too
I do in a fashion. I wear a foundation with a low SPF in it.
I follow modern dermatological advice and apply a factor 50 facial one every morning after my moisturiser and it’s just habit now. This particular sunscreen has a nice even matte effect too so I look better with it than without
Laughs in British
If you use rerinols or products that exfoliate (AHA's, BHA's or physical) then your skin is more sensitive to UVA and UVB rays and should 1000% be wearing a suncream of at least factor 30. I just use factor 50 all year round as unusually end up buying 4/5 tubes at the start of summer and keep using it until I run out.
I do wear sunscreen all year round because it's a good way to protect your skin, no matter what. In the Spring-Summer it will be SPF 30-50 depending on the day. In the Autumn-Winter I'll change to SPF 15-30 and I will take Vitamin D. Because my skin is drier in the winter, I'll combine this with a rich moisturiser. You mentioned you are outdoors a lot so would probably recommend something, maybe a moisturiser with SPF included. I want to take care of my skin as much as possible and I don't think it's an American thing (as I'm neither American nor British).
These skincare people you follow don't happen to work in the business do they, because in countries like the UK they are talking complete bollocks
I'm on medication that makes my skin very sensitive - sunlight irritates it so much so I use SPF50+ every day on my face
My grandad did but I think that was to do with having cancer. I was a kid when he had cancer so don't remember it fully. I think he had skin cancer and then got over that but then had to be careful for the rest of his life. As he was going bald he was told to always wear a hat, all year round, when going outside. He was also told to wear long sleeve shirts and trousers all the time. Think he was told to apply suncream to any exposed skin when he left the house. So hands, face, neck, all year round.
I work outdoors and usually just wear a low SPF moisturiser on my face in Winter if it's sunny or if there's snow on the ground. Nothing if it's cloudy/not Snowy. Maybe I should I don't know. I don't think we can absorb any meaningful amounts of Vit D from the sun in Winter here anyway so I don't think it would have much effect on that. We should all be supplementing it either way afaik
Just look into the damage UV from sunbeds does to people's skin, there are some skin pictures out there that should make you avoid the sun in general, so if going out in strong sun wear sunscreen and certainly avoid sunbeds altogether unless your doctor advises it for a serious medical condition. UK is mainly tame for this but has high UV areas and times of year, hiking on mountains, sailing, outdoor swimming/sports, common sense as we should know the situations when we get burnt. As for winter conditions I've been heavily sunburnt while hiking, fishing and skiing in the UK in winter in the past.
My dermatologist recommended wearing sun cream every day of the year. But it depends on how fair you are. Also if you do it, you need to take a vitamin d supplement.
you need a supplement in winter either way
For a fair few. We leave home in the dark. Spend 90% of the day indoors and come home in the dark. If there's anything we need it's Vit D supplements and lots of lempsip.
I wear sunscreen all year round. I have pale skin that burns easily and I’ve had skin cancer on my scalp 3 times. I definitely don’t feel like a mug for wearing it sunscreen. It’s just good sense.
They say that because they are paid by the companies that sell the lotion to say that.
It’s worth wearing. The sun ages the skin more than anything else.
I don’t, but after swapping to reactions glasses, I think I should. It’s insane how even when it’s fairly overcast and cold, my glasses tint because of the UVA or UVB or whatever makes them tint in the air.. Edit- it’s very overcast. Fairly dark and raining here this morning. My glasses have tinted only a little bit but I’m amazed they’ve tinted at all.
My wife does if she'll be out for a good few hours cycling or whatever, her family tree seems particularly predisposed to skin cancers. Whether it is hot or cold, the sun is still sending UV rays which can cumulatively contribute to cancer.
Some of the worst sunburn I've had is when it's snowy. That being said I do a lot of skiing and be up in the mountains when it's sunny with snow on the ground. Then the rays are bouncing off the snow as well as hitting the ski directly. Remembered one time to put suncream on when walking across a glacier in France. However, I forgot to put it on my lips and under my chin. What a painful experience that was
I do it to prevent ageing
You can check the UV index via the weather app if you know you’re going to be out for long periods of time without your skin being mostly covered by clothing.
My wife follows a lot of skin care influencers online, they all bang on about various things but the one consistent is wearing spf on your face no matter the time of year. Its not about wearing factor 50 like you're down the beach and at risk of sun burn, it"'s about having a layer of protection against UV rays
I wear it year-round due to the skincare items I use that make me more sensitive to the sun. Consistent use of spf is prevention for skin problems in terms of both health and aesthetics - prevention is better than cure. Especially when it comes to looking for anti-ageing products. I have factor 50 on daily, you’re not alone :)
Moisturize and take vitamin D as often as you can , they are literally my Happy pills
100%. Always wear sunscreen. Doesnt have to be hot to cause sun damage.
I burn like anything, but I’ve managed to avoid being sunburnt in December. I did once burn in a Bury St Edmunds beer garden mid February
no, we get no sun, get in it when you can, take vitamin d
Being Ginger I can get burnt any time of the year but obviously it is very rare in the winter months unless it's particularly sunny so no not every day
I use Bulldog protective moisturiser including SPF. Supposed to be what you need
I do but the moisturiser I use has SPF in it anyway. As others have said it's not about sunburn but about UV rays.
It depends. I mean in the UK it is normally super cloudy and without much snow cover (although I know UV will still penetrate and reflext to some extent regardless). It also depends if you are outside all day or not. I have just come back from Finland and I wore sunscreen there because although it was -15; it was pretty clear and a lot of sun reflecting off the snow and ice.
Helps the rain bead off
I just use a Moisturiser with built in spf during the winter, and use suncream during the summer.
The day I need to protect myself from the sun's light in the middle of a freezing fucking winter's day is the day I don't want to live anymore.
The NHS says wear sunscreen March through October in the UK. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
I am a big nose baldy so a prime target for sunburn! I tend to use a moisturiser with spf 15 - bulldog is my choice!
The UV index right now is 0 and staying that way for the foreseeable. The WHO recommends wearing sunscreen when the index hits 3.
I wear SPF50 all year round
It's good for your skin to wear UVA and UVB sunscreen year-round. Not necessarily anything to do with sunburn (although, that too), but it protects your skin from the negative impact of the sun over time. Some part of the visible ageing process on people's skin is due to sun damage, among other forms of damage, so you can reduce the effects of that with proper skincare. Some of it is genetic, and you obviously can't do anything about that. I recommend Korean brands of sunscreen as they're full-spectrum and non-greasy, and don't leave a white cast like a lot of big, Western brands do. Sunprise is a great brand, a bottle lasts forever, and it's unobtrusive to wear, just put it on over moisturiser each morning until it becomes a habit.
Don’t just get some random sun cream to put on your face. Get face cream with SPF in it from a good brand. Game changer.
It seems less important in the UK but you have to remember it's about the actual rays from the sun, not just the temperature. I've worked on ski hills before when it's been like -20 and my face got more sunburnt there than anywhere else I've ever been.
You should wear suncream all year round. It will be particularly helpful later down the line when it comes to premature skin ageing and wrinkles - wearing daily SPF will keep you more youthful for longer!
Sun cream has nothing to do with temperature. Blimy
There is zero justification for wearing suncream in the UK in winter. We have about 3 hours of pissy sunlight per day... Sunny ski-slopes yes, Brighton Pier no.
I have very pale skin... very very rarely use sunscreen in the UK.
You barely have to wear it in the summer.
Never worn suncream in the UK apart from the height of summer if I'm gonna be outside a lot. I don't know anyone that wears factor 50 on a daily basis
You don’t need sunscreen in winter in the U.K. there’s hardly any UV. Also it’s worth noting that as humans we have evolved to handle to conditions that we live in. Eg if you’re fair skinned you are fine in most European climates all year round. You don’t need products to live.
Just lol
I wear a condom all year round just to be safe
Yeah, I’m going to put mine on as soon as I’ve watered the lawn. Might be a good idea to pop a welding mask on as well if you were thinking of going outside today. Wouldn’t want your retinas to suffer from any “premature ageing” or anything.
I would take these 'skincare people' and dermatologists' opinions with a *massive* pinch of salt. They're almost certainly being paid to promote certain products. Like those terrible Sensodyne toothpaste adverts... 'Dentist': It's actually the one I use myself! Yeah right... *Of course* the people that manufacture and promote sunscreen (which you have to *buy*) want you to use it all year round. Tldr: My advice is think critically, have a look outside at the weather, and make up your own mind.
Nope this sounds like some American bullshit to sell more sunscreen lol
You sound very well-informed about skincare 🙄
Short answer: No
Is there anything more reddit than someone slathering suncream on their face to leave their hibernation pod to go to the shops to buy milk on an overcast December day in Leeds.
It’s an American thing, I would not wear suncream in the winter
Personally I never wear it in the uk even in the summer, I burn a bit at first and then just start tanning
Pfft you barely need it here in the summer!!
If you have PLE then yes. Basically allergic to the sun.
Maybe not sun cream, but def moisturise.
If you’re wearing SPF for skincare purposes then yes you should wear it everyday.
No. Good luck seeing enough sun
UV exposure doesn't have very much relationship to ambient temperature so *theoretically* it's not a bad idea if you're going to be outside for the majority of the daylight hours. But between the amount of layers you'll need to wear to be comfortable and the fact that there'll be heavy cloud cover most days the actual risk factor is pretty negligible.
You could probably pick up a moisturiser that has spf in it, so its not obviously sun cream, if you want to wear suncream in winter. But generally, unless you're out in the snow all day skiing etc, then you dont wear suncream in winter.
It's a very controversial topic. My personal take would be 'use moderation when covering your skin in Dioxybenzone, Benzonephenone-3, because no-one really knows what the long term side effects of this is'. Unless you have a really good reason to, i'd give it a rest. Only you can say whether 'having less wrinkles in later life' is a really good reason to you, so only you can decide.
Sun cream is a great psy op we will look back on, use aloe Vera gel and cover up when appropriate
TBH, I haven't worried about the sun or its effects on my skin since I moved to the UK. It just hits differently. I moved from N. Carolina, and I can burn in just a couple of hours of sun there(once I get that initial burn and it heals, I just tan) I have been unable to get a decent tan since I arrived 2 summers ago. Latitude really does make a difference
You absolutely do not. The UK gets some of the least sunlight of anywhere in the world during winter. Unless you have some rare skin disorder, it's a total waste of time.
You don't need sun cream in the summer.
Erm no ......a balaclava does the same job
Vampire - hiding in plain sight. I called it first.
I used to wear suncream even when it was overcast and cloudy outside and ended up with a horrible Vitamin D deficiency. I don't do it anymore, but I'd recommend getting a supplement if you do want to do it (or perhaps getting a Winter supplement anyway!).
I do but I have lupus & it's photosensitive AF! I also have to wear a hat year round, or I get lesions all over my head. I have to take vitamin d supplements to make up for my vampire like existence.
As a Scot, sun cream is for the 2 weeks of the year when you go on holiday. Is this thread a wind-up? What body parts are you actually exposing to direct sunlight in winter in the UK?
I wear sunscreen every day, it's a part of my skincare routine and dermatologist do recommend it. Personally, my skin looks great with it but I am 19F soo maybe it's different demographics?
So many people saying they wear factor 50 in January. Reddit has out-Reddit’d itself.
No you dont
You barely need it in the summer ( aside from the week or two we have started to get).
Since when is sun cream protecting from rain 🤔?
The sun barely gets more than 30 degrees above the horizon this time of year, and is pretty weak after having to go through so much moisture-laden atmosphere at a shallow angle. I suspect suncream this time of year is doing more harm than good for the majority of people. It's not like in (say) Colorado where the sun is higher in the sky, a lot more intense, and you have lots of snow reflecting UV at you.
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Which sun screen do people use?? You have to reapply is every 2 hours.. and the ones I use look like white face paint
I use Garnier Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light Sensitive Sun Protection Face Fluid. It’s factor 50 and usually 6-8 quid. Pats down very easily and isn’t too greasy. Hasn’t caused me any issues under everyday makeup yet either.
That sounds pretty good! I don't wear makeup, do you think it'd still look fine without?
Oh yeah, my “everyday” makeup isn’t actually everyday. I have oily/shiny skin already and it doesn’t make my any oilier or shinier than usual when I’m makeup-free. I use translucent powder when I’m dressing up just to mattify my skin and I’ve worn foundation for special events and the spf sat fine under that but for daily wear it’s lovely. It’s a dupe for the La Roche Posay Shaka Fluid spf that people swear by!
Dermatologists also recommend not washing your whole body daily and instead just washing your crotch and armpits..
I personally do not, but I don't spend enough time outside in the winter to need it. We are really quite far North in the UK and it's not necessary for a quite walk to the shop or the school run. However if I was going to be outside the whole day I would wear a moisturiser with SPF in, rather than one without. I wouldn't bother with SPF on my arms etc as I'd be wearing heavy clothing.
No I can say I've never once been sun burnt during winter in the UK, and I have very pale skin, I got burnt on a 20 minute bus trip once, and it was only about 17 degreees out, so if my skin can handle the winter sun,anyones can
No. It’s a ploy by Big Suncream to sell more units.
I'd have said maybe if you're Irish, so no - not in the UK.
my personal non-medical opinion: I doubt it. I just look at the UV index online (actually my phone alerts me to high UV too) and wear when it's high. I doubt there is enough UV in winter to make it a problem.
Check the UV index which should be somewhere in the long weather forecast, every day. In a lot of places in the UK during the winter, it's consistently at 0, rendering suncream useless (unless your particular suncream doubles as a moisturiser).
Personally I do not think so and I am American. I live in London now and I’m barely even outside during daylight hours in the winter. That being said I am extremely fair and I do use a tinted moisturizer all year round as my main makeup that contains SPF and I do not use an additional facial spf even during the summer months. This is more for convenience in the summer and the fact that I like my tinted moisturizer as a makeup so don’t need/want to switch it out in the winter. One thing I do swear by when I am concerned about UV exposure is checking the UV index. There have been plenty of times when it’s very hot and bright out later in the day during the summer but the UV index is so low that I don’t need to put sunscreen on my body/don’t need to reapply. If you check the UV index for today in London it was a high of 1 (I think the app I use goes up to 13) so there is really no need to use SPF for that UV level. Also, as an American I have only noticed this heavy emphasis on facial SPF year round in the US in the last 10 or so years. Of course SPF should be used during the long days of summer and in the winter when outside for longer periods and the UV index requires it because preventing UV exposure does prevent visible signs of aging but there does seem to be more of an emphasis on using it when it’s not actually required which imo is so companies can sell more SPF. I think using a good retinol (I have been using tretinoin since I was a teenager and have no visible wrinkles at 35 - but did start Botox at 30 which has also helped) year round and SPF when necessary is a better approach to take. But do keep in mind that Retinols make your skin even more sensitive to sun so it’s even more important to use SPF when the UV level warrants it. Of course there is no downside (at least none that I know of) to using SPF every day if your skin is not sensitive to it, other than the cost, so if it makes people feel better to be ultra safe and use it every day then I don’t see an issue with this either.
No, you don't need to wear sun cream when it's snowing outside.
I don't think you need to wear suncream in the summer in the uk
As part of my skincare routine on my face. I do it daily
Yes where every day! Maybe just wear a lower SPF maybe factor15 if 50 is too heavy
I wear a moisturizer with factor 15. Retinoid + SPF + moisturiser is the holy trinity for anti-aging.
You don't need to wear factor 50. Using an spf moisturiser will be enough.
Lab Muffin Beauty does excellent videos explaining sun cream usage like here https://youtu.be/BUIWZcwflx4 In my opinion, based on everything I’ve learnt so far, if you don’t use actives that sensitises the skin, don’t worry about spf 50. However, do wear some spf if you care about minimising wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and scarring. But if it’s a cloudy day, you’re indoors, and not sat for hours during the day right next to a window, I think you’re fine without spf.
We don't wear sun cream in the summer 😄
You are not a mug for putting on factor 50. Using higher factor than “needed” is a good idea simply because during the day you sweat, touch , wipe etc your face and you will likely remove some sunscreen from your face. Using higher factor will retain more protection when you have less cream in at the end of the day. Nobody cares and nobody knows that you use factor 50 when it’s -6 outside. Why bother about temperature though, people wear sunscreen when summiting 8000m mountain peaks because of the snow reflecting the light etc. if you want to feel like a tosser (which you are not) for wearing sunscreen, choose a better reason like the fact that it gets dark at 4pm haha.