"Wear SPF every day! - is it a cult?

[RobinEllacotStrike]

I see this all over MN and elsewhere - women declaring that its vital to wear a high factor SPF EVERY day.

Today its late October, high storm with ferocious wind and rain,why on earth would anyone put SPF on? Even if I was going outside, it would be for a tiny amount of time. The iphone tells me the UV index is 1. Please tell me what benefit wearing an SPF today would give anyone?

I wear SPF in summer on my face but only if/when I'm going outdoors. I'm not anti SPF - and the range of SPF available for the face is fabulous, but I am much more of an "apply as needed" type. I think about my day, the time of year etc.

Applying SPF in winter, on days with low UV ratings when you're likely to be indoors most of the day seems ridiculous. Unless I was to spend a sunny winter day outdoors hiking, I won't apply SPF until spring now and I think this is sensible.

What do people think they are achieving applying SPF through a British winter? Why the advice to wear high SPF layer on your face every day religiously?

I’ve also wondered this! Apparently there are always UV rays even when it’s cloudy so people say SPF prevents the ageing from these rays…. But yes, surely not on a Windy rainy day like today?

I believe if you use retinoids it can make your skin very sensitive to UV damage but yes I can't imagine there'd be much danger today!

https://innovative-dermatology.com/2024/02/19/why-you-need-sunscreen-in-the-winter/

I’ve had skin cancer on my face (and never really been a sun worshipper!). I use a moisturiser with SPF 30 so I don’t have to do anything extra. I’ve got a pretty big scar from the last one so I’m reducing my risk of getting more! I don’t worry so much in winter though. I’m not outside for long then.

UVA is present year round and passes through clouds. It is UVA that is responsible for faster skin aging, wrinkles etc. Just because you are not outside much dosen't mean that it isn't affecting your skin. It passes through glass so driving, spending a lot of time sitting near windows eg at work all has an impact. It is more about the daily build up causing damage as opposed to one incident of sunburn.
I mean its up to you but it literally takes 30 seconds to apply a face cream with SPF so why wouldn't you?

Yes, it's perpetrated by the industry, but it astounds me how many people care and that they care so much about other people "protecting" their skin.

Of course you don't need UPF when you're going to be outdoors for a few minutes at most on a day like today.

There's all sorts of reasons why people do this. However, I do it as its easier to remember to do something everyday than 'as and when' .

I'm horrified by the dark marks and other skin damage that has appeared in my 50s and I understand it dates back to what I was doing in my 20s! So I'm really conscious now of wearing SPF every day regardless of the weather, it's not going to harm me and will hopefully do some good.

I use tret and I incorporated SPF into part of my skincare routine. I looked at the science before hand and I thought it was necessary for me. I don't care what other people do, people are still using sunbeds.

Im 65 and this is my experience as well. Large dark mark appeared on my cheek in my 50s. Lots of sunbathing in 20s.
Had it layered off and it came straight back.

One of the few good things about being someone who is very sun sensitive and was wearing a hat and suncream as a child in the 70's before it was ever a thing, and who has had sunburn when wearing waterproofs so is a dedicated spf all year wearer (but drop from total zinc block in the sun to spf 50 in face cream on dull winter days) is that at 54 you can really see the difference in my skin aging and pigmentation compared to others. Its not a scientific comparison, but the effort of buying SPF50 moisturiser vs non spf is trivial imo, so a bit of a no brainer

I’m in Scotland and use it every day. In fairness I have quite bad pigmentation - probably half genetics and half sun worshipping!

I wear SPF everyday but I don’t care if anyone else does! It’s not an expensive one and it functions instead of a moisturiser. I also agree with previous poster that it’s easier to just make something an everyday habit rather than had to make lots of micro-decisions day to day. I don’t think about it, it doesn’t do harm in winter, but it is hugely beneficial in sunny weather.

Edited cos I posted before I had actually written the post!

I use a tinted SPF which does as a make up base too. I’d wear it even going out at night. It’s just habit for me now.

I wear SPF every day and have done for over a decade, so it's just part of my routine. Takes me 10 seconds, is no faff - the effort seems worth it for a potential small benefit.

I wear spf every day on my face; have done since my early 20s. I will continue to do so.

I use factor 50 on my face every day. I walk a lot and don't want to age prematurely.

I wear SPF everyday from March until around now. I think a lot of this rhetoric comes from Americans and other countries who cannot fathom the UV index being 0 during the day. I’m not going to waste money putting unnecessary chemicals on my face for no benefit.

Having said that I have started wearing a hat whenever I go out in summer because despite wearing sunscreen since I was 20 I still have sun damage on my forehead.

Having had a basal cell carcinoma in my 30s, I wear it year-round. Now I'm in my early fifties, I can see what a good decision that has been re skin ageing.

UVA does penetrate year-round, and it's also now thought that light from electronic devices can age skin too. For me, it's well worth the extra 30 seconds to apply in the morning, and the one I use works well as a make up primer too so mostly I'm not even adding an extra step.

Agree with PP if it's part of your morning routine then you don't have to remember when it's sunny or check the UV on your phone. Takes seconds and does no harm. It's a good habit to have.

The thing is: why wouldn't you?

I have a day moisturiser with SPF20. I put it on every day. Why would I bother checking weather forecasts, thinking about how much time I'm going to spend outside, and buying a second moisturiser for when it's looking rainy? Fuck that, I've just rolled out of bed and washed my face, I'm going to slap on the same moisturiser that I do every day.

I put face cream on everyday. It has contained some uv protection since i was 14. Hardly a big deal.

Ex goth sun avoider here
Heavy smoker for 10 years
Only just started to look after my body
People often surprised I'm pushing 50.
It has to be the sun or good genes.
I'm going with sun looking at the non goths in my family.
(Yes I use spf 50 every day 🙂)

I wear it everyday all year around. Mainly because I use tretinoin and it can mean your skin needs protecting more. And I'll try anything that's budget friendly to make my skin look the best it can.

I've read that normal moisturiser with added spf doesn't protect very much or for very long as most people don't apply a thick enough layer.