Have you been wearing sunscreen during lockdown?

[InOmniaParatus42]

Especially if you aren't going out much? I've been working from home with 2 DC and barely get the time to step out, apart from hanging up the laundry.
I never seem to grasp the sunscreen rules and always doubt if I'm overdoing it or not

So here my questions...

1. Do you wear sunscreen all through the year? Even when at home? (our family room is south facing and can get really hot - not sure if this is a factor)
2. What factor do you use during the winter?
3. I know I'm supposed to have a separate sunscreen and not rely on what's in my moisturiser, but can I rely on these if sitting at home or during the winters?
4. Your best sunscreen brand?

Thanks

I just read this article that basically says you’d need an obscene amount of spf foundation on for it to protect you from the sun like actual sunscreen does.

So really you need to wear sunscreen under your makeup.

I forgot to link the article.

www.self.com/story/sorry-spf-makeup-is-not-enough-to-protect-you-from-the-sun

Only on hot days like now and if im going to be out for more than about and hour. I'm ginger and freckled and burn easily so always high factor. My moisturiser is spf25 and and my foundation is spf15 so I reckon that's fine

Yes always. I use Retinol at night so am extra careful on my face

My daily moisturiser has spf15 in it so I always wear some sunscreen.
However on really sunny days if I'm outside for longer than half an hour I wear proper spf30 facial sun lotion or I burn.

If I'm going to be outside yes. Usually factor 30ish, sometimes 50. I'm usually inside or in the shade middle of the day though as I'm pale.

If you are talking about using sunscreen for anti ageing reasons then yes it should be worn every day.
UVA rays which are present all year around even on cloudy days, penetrate the skin and break down collagen and elastin. This causes your skin to lose its firmness and become saggy with age.
UVA rays also trigger the formation of melanin which causes pigmentation to the skin. This is why people often see patches of pigment on their skin which becomes darker in the summer.
People who are not bothered about skin ageing will find this over the top. That's fine and entirely up to them. If you wish to keep your skin in the best condition possible for as long as possible then using SPF 50 in the summer and at least SPF 30 in the winter is a good idea and any Dermatologist will support this.
Unfortunately skin ageing is not the only issue with the sun. Skin cancer, as we all know is a very big issue globally. So at least wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun people!

Oh forgot to say not in winter. Maybe I should though.

I use the a weather app to see when the UV is above 6. If I’m going to be out in it for more than 20 minutes I wear a hat and cover up or (less often) put on sunscreen (or a mixture of the two). But mostly I would stay indoors or in deep shade between 11 and 3 on very sunny days.

I've moved my office to the garden and have been wearing F20

I use a moisturiser with spf 15 daily. In summer if I’m out I wear suncteam factor 30 on my face. If I’m working (indoors) I wear a bb cream with spf 15 in.
In winter unless It’s mild I don’t wear anything, although I would if I was out walking for a long time.

Only if I'm going to be out in full sun for more than 10 or 15 minutes during the summer and when skiing.

Even then I prefer to cover up rather than use sunscreen.

No, we need that vitamins d if we want to stay healthy
We rarely get enough sun to eleven bother in our country
I’ve been wondering if the overuse of sunscreen is why so many people have succumbed to the virus ..just my pondering

I don’t lie in the sun, I sit in it, so my face gets some sunshine but not full on

I’ve been wondering if the overuse of sunscreen is why so many people have succumbed to the virus
Err.. what?

I’ve been wondering if the overuse of sunscreen is why so many people have succumbed to the virus

Eh? Codswallop bad science there, I think. Plus, the people who are dying of it aren’t of the obsessive ‘sunscreen’ generation.

Wearing sun lotion in the winter is a sure fire way to get a vitamin d defecenty.

Unless you're of ginger complexion, or going to the beach, or sitting out in direct sun in the hight of summer for long periods, you don't need to wear sun lotion in the UK.

Yes, every day. Whoever said said we don’t need to in this country are completely wrong. Both Dh and I have had skin cancer. Neither have red hair, Dh brown eyed, both v early 50s and v healthy. Never been a sunbather and taken care in sun.

Consultant said 50 factor every day end of.

Having cancer cut out of your face isn’t fun. Take the risk if you like however just remember you won’t know where it will be on your face. I was lucky and it was to the side and tiny. Still a sizeable scar. Went in for for something else which was nothing and consultant saw this teeny tiny thing I hadn’t noticed.

Don’t risk it.

I wear spf50 on my face and neck for anti ageing purpose every day of the year. It’s UVA which causes ageing and that is the same strength all year round at all latitudes.

I take a vitamin D supplement Oct-March.

I do expose my body, say arms and legs, to sun with no cream for at least 30 mins if it’s warm enough. For vitamin D and also there are other benefits that we are only just discovering. I accept the skin on my body may well get wrinkly from this though.
I never burn and will cover up after 30 mins or put cream on.

You need to talk about the face and the body separately I think...

Anecdotal but every single person I’ve known to have skin cancer has never been a sunbather.

I’m not advocating going out in the sun for hours and burning but there are many factors at play..

@Pinkfrangipani

If you are talking about using sunscreen for anti ageing reasons then yes it should be worn every day. UVA rays which are present all year around even on cloudy days, penetrate the skin and break down collagen and elastin. This causes your skin to lose its firmness and become saggy with age. UVA rays also trigger the formation of melanin which causes pigmentation to the skin. This is why people often see patches of pigment on their skin which becomes darker in the summer. People who are not bothered about skin ageing will find this over the top. That's fine and entirely up to them. If you wish to keep your skin in the best condition possible for as long as possible then using SPF 50 in the summer and at least SPF 30 in the winter is a good idea and any Dermatologist will support this. Unfortunately skin ageing is not the only issue with the sun. Skin cancer, as we all know is a very big issue globally. So at least wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun people!

Im aware that uva rays are present all year round but I haven't seen any studies as to what extent it's actually found in winter. Something being present is one thing but is it enough to cause any damage to skin? Also would the same rules of reapplying sunscreen every few hours apply during winter? I am not convinced sun protection is needed in winter while the UV rating tends to be 2 and below even the met office says it isn't necessary below level 3.

I have quite dark olive skin and don't usually burn but I've started wearing factor 50 sunscreen if I'm out in the sun all day and reduce as the summer goes on.

Nothing fancy, just bog standard nivea

@SavyD,

UVA is has the longest wavelength, that is more UVA radiation reaches earth and penetrates your skin than UVB (medium wavelength) and UVC (short - doesn’t penetrate Earth’s atmosphere). UVA radiation levels are constant throughout the year, regardless of cloud over etc and so you should use a UVA block or broad spectrum sunscreen all year round. This isn’t new or unknown info. Groups like The Skin Cancer Foundation advocate it www.skincancer.org/press/2018-winter-sun-safety/

@JonHammIsMyJamm Vast majority of people are not wearing sunscreen in winter though and i haven't seen anything to suggest this has had a major impact on the population. There isn't enough detail in these blanket claims of uva presence in winter i.e how high it is, how does it differ from summer e.t.c. The met office states that protection is no required when the uv levels are below 3, which it is throughout winter. Who's lying?

As said, UVA is constant all year round, the same strength wherever you are in the world. UVB are the burning rays and that is what the UV index gives info on.

If you are bothered about skin ageing you need UVA protection all year round and it can penetrate glass.

If you are just trying not to get sun burnt then stick to sun cream just in the summer.