When did daily sunscreen become a mainstream thing?

[dolobug]

I'm 45 and have been using spf on my face every day since I was in my late teens / early 20's. I think that when I was in my earlier teens the info about sunscreen and skin ageing just wasn't as known and that very few moisturisers or foundations actually contained any sunscreen at all and not many would have put (sun tan lotion) on their face in winter! In fact I remember when most sunscreens seemed to be spf 6 and my parents using tanning oil in the 80's. Perhaps people from different countries where it is sunnier had different attitudes to spf but in the UK I don't think anyone was really wearing it daily until the early 2000's where they?

I recall being an outlier amongst my peers for caring about spf when I was in my 20's in the early 2000's and that people even thought the spf 15 I was wearing in winter then was excessive, never mind the daily spf 30 - 50 I was wearing daily by the mid 2000's. Even at that point when spf was more commonly found in make up and moisturiser it was and spf 15 and mostly you weren't applying that in a thick enough layer for it to be effective.

Am I wrong now in thinking that most people are wearing spf 30 - 50 on their face and exposed skin everyday even in winter? When did you first start to take notice of how important sunscreen was for your skin? Do you where it regularly and think it has made a difference to the quality of your skin as you have aged?

Overall I think it does make a difference to how you look at least and on balance I'd prefer to have nicer skin if I can

Well, that's your choice. And wearing sunscreen day in, day out for decades on end is a pretty dedicated way to go about it but most people don't bother, including your sister.

I come out in a horrible rash if I use suncream so I need to buy stuff for sensitive skin - which didn’t really exist when I was a teenager. I am a pale yellow olive colour & don’t burn easily.

but, my neck is crepe paper like. I’m only 35 and have the neck of a 90 year old and I don’t know what to do

I use sensitive sun cream now that it’s affordable. But if anyone else can recommend anything for my neck I’d be so grateful!

I use the suncream daily. Wish I started when younger

I started using city block in my early 20’s in 1995! Summer and winter. It was marketed as a face protector for traffic pollution/free radicals too iirc
I’ve been using the super city block spf 40 for years now though, I’m so sad it’s just been discontinued as I’m nearly running out.

I do wear a separate factor 50 face SPF on a really sunny day though, I will have to try their superdefence city block now super city block is no more.

@FourTeaFallOut Well I wasn't advocating anything above skin protection for all but more just wondering when it became mainstream, which perhaps it isn't, maybe I just think that because I am into skincare.

I dont use sunblock unless I absolutely have to. I wear long sleeves, big hats and long trousers or skirts to keep the sun off.

I used to use sunblock until I suddenly became allergic (violent itching, swelling, lumps etc). The only ones I can use now are mineral sunblocks with zinc and they are thick, difficult to apply and feel awful so I try to avoid it.

I have to be careful to ensure foundation doesnt have any spf because that will also trigger allergy, though foundations often cause reactions even without spf.

Afraid I'm another person who doesn't wear sunscreen year round. I'll wear in the summer if I'm planning to be in the sun (rather than the shade) for over about 30 minutes. Under 30 minutes I wouldn't bother.

I also don't use any skin care - well certainly not in the summer. In the winter I pop a bit of moisturiser on either in the morning or the evening maybe every other day (i.e. when I remember).

You and I are similar colourings by the looks of it. I would be red like that in 10 mins in the sun today. But I'd be perfectly fine in the winter, the great North East sun repelling system is in full swing October through April.

@ArchitectBarbie Retin A, Glycolic acid, Vitamin C and dermal needling will help with sun damged skin also sunscreen of course but thats harder to find a suitable one. I do like the garnier ones.

I think so. I think daily sunscreen is the first commandment of skin enthusiasts but it's more trouble than it's worth to most people.

I'm nearly 50 and have been wearing daily sunscreen on my face and neck, religiously every day, since I was about 15.
I am very pale, but I have to say that my facial skin looks younger than my colleagues who are all at least 10 years younger. I just don't have the wrinkles.
For sure I look my age but somehow my skin is just in much better condition.

I've known 3 people who had skin cancer, one of whom died. Looking good is just a bonus for me. I'm happy to reduce my skin cancer risk.

I don't understand how it could be considered hassle/bother by anyone - does everyone not moisturise daily? Even a moisturiser with SPF 15 is some protection, and even a lot of the cheapest ones have that.

I try not to let the sun touch my face at all, rather than use sunscreens. I do care about the ageing effects, but not to the extent that I'm going to rub toxic chemicals and endocrine disrupters into my skin every day. If the sun can't be avoided (and I live in a sunny country, so this is often), I wear a mineral BB cream.

I think as much as the effects of UVA are becoming better known, so are the damaging effects of chemical sunscreens, both to our bodies and the environment.

I’m another one who only wears it in the height of summer and only then if I’m out in it all day long.
I don’t like putting chemicals on/in me unless I have to.

@AnuSTart Love the username , love that show!

Yeah, people tell me I look younger but its not something I think you can easily judge yourself, ageing isn't just about skin texture although i think there is some evidence to suggest sun protection can help against age related volume loss. In anycase I will settle for having nice skin! of course the cancer prevention is also a huge benefit to useing spf especially as the climate seems to get hotter and sunnier here.

I've worn SPF 30 -50 on my face since I was 20. I'm 50 now. I never go out in the sun unless I'm wearing at least a 30. That's since my late teens. I still ended up with something dodgy having to be removed (I'm awaiting results) I got burnt a few times as an early teen. We were very silly.
Wear a high SPF folks. Even if you tan. Tanned skin is damaged skin after all.

Thank you so much @dolobug I’ll get on it!

No definitely not, in winter I wake up in the dark go home in the dark, I really don’t need factor 50 on me when I nip out for a sandwich at lunchtime.

@TheLeadbetterLife I prefer natural mineral sunscreens and like you I'm a sun avoider. One of the issues with sunscreen is that people put it on then think they are ok to bake in the sun which isn't so, you should still stay in the shade, wear a hat, sunglasses etc. I do think spf is still important though as UV rays still bounces around you even in the shade or indoors.

You can't even crowbar any useful vitamin d out of the sun in the winter, are people really suggesting high factor sunscreens are typically required everyday through winter, in the UK, to avoid skin cancer?

"Tanned skin is damaged skin after all."
**
Amen to that!

Same as me.

I don't think it is a mainstream thing. Historically I have always used a foundation with SPF in (Mac). Since I started using Retinol I now use an SPF 50 religiously on my face - it's taken me ages to find a good one that sits well under makeup and it's £50 for a small bottle, it's absolutely gorgeous though.

I think if I didn't use Retinol I wouldn't be so bothered, as when I sunbathe I put suncream on anyway. Most people I know don't use SPF every day unless it's built into their existing products.

In the Winter I will not use SPF on my face, unless I am out in the sun all day. That's OTT even for me.

I do take vitamin D daily as I'm deficient, but that was way before the spf on my face. Just a sun avoider

I'm 35 and wear it year round. Have done since I was a teenager but I'll admit to being a conscientious type because I also had acne so got into skincare early.

I definitely think I'm starting to see a difference in how young my skin looks compared to others my age now. I could probably pass for 30 but I look at some women my age and think they look 40 or older! However, I also don't smoke or drink, have a healthy lifestyle but also have a dog so holidays for years have been UK based rather than tanning somewhere lovely abroad, regularly exercise, can afford nice skincare etc. So I don't think it's just the spf.