As summer comes to an end, the weather gets cooler and the days grow shorter, leaving many people to store their sunscreen for the upcoming season. However, even in the fall months, ultraviolet (UV) protection is important in protecting your skin. In fact, UVA rays—which make up 95% of all UV rays—are almost as equally intense during fall and winter daylight hours as they are during summer daylight hours.

UV protection is more than just avoiding sunburn, it’s protecting our skin from the dangers of the UV rays that come from the sun. While you’re less likely to get sunburned during fall months, your unprotected skin is still being exposed to UVA rays. UVA rays penetrate deeply into the dermis, the skin’s thickest layer, causing premature aging and contributing to skin cancer development.

It’s also important to know that cloudy days can be just as dangerous to our skin as a bright sunny day. The cloudy, foggy weather during the colder months can trick people into thinking that they can go outdoors without UV protection. Even when there are thick clouds and fog, up to 80% of UVA rays are still able to penetrate through to the earth’s surface—meaning you need to stay on top of UV protection year-round.

UV Protection Tips for Fall

For those that love hiking, running and exploring the outdoors during the fall, protect your skin as though it’s still the middle of summer. Apply the same broad-spectrum SPF used during the summer months daily to any part of your skin that’s exposed like your face, neck, and back of your hands. The rest of your body will benefit from thicker-woven fabrics like denim or heavy cotton, typically worn during the fall, where the sun’s rays are less likely to penetrate the clothing fibers and reach your skin.

Research-backed Results

In addition to the fact that The Skin Cancer Foundation fully endorses sunscreen application year-round, there is also scientific data to support the notion that wearing sunscreen will significantly slow down the sun’s damaging and aging effect on the skin. Australian researchers from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research found that adults who regularly used sunscreen were less likely to show increased wrinkling over a four-and-a-half-year period than adults who used sunscreen less often. Regardless of sex, age, skin color, skin cancer history and weight, study subjects were 24% less likely to show increased aging and damage to their skin if they consistently and regularly used sunscreen.

The end of summertime doesn’t mean the end of protecting your skin from the sun. The best way to prevent any form of skin damage is to remember sun safety and UV protection. For more information on how Sensus Healthcare is preserving the sensual beauty of the skin, contact us today.