Assuming you don’t need sunscreen when you stay indoors is a trap that is easy to fall into.
If you are not sitting outside and bathing in the harmful rays of the sun, you are fine to skip the sun cream, right?
Well, no. Sorry.
You really need to wear sunscreen every day, even if you don’t plan to go out or spend most of your waking hours working from home in front of a laptop.
This is because the sun can damage your skin even through windows.
‘Standard glass windows block UVB rays but not UVA rays, which can penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays [rays], [and] They are the main contributing factor to photoaging, which are changes seen as dark spots, wrinkles, and leathery textured skin, ” Joyce Park, a California-based certified dermatologist, tells Allure.
UVA rays can not only cause signs of aging, such as sagging skin, wrinkles and discoloration, but can also cause cancer.
That means that even if you are sitting indoors all day, natural sunlight streaming through your windows could be causing all sorts of damage.
The good news is that there is a (very) easy solution to this alarming problem: use sunscreen.
You can also cover your windows with special sunscreens, but that feels like a lot more effort, and might not be an option for those of us who rent.
Emma Coleman, a dermatology RGN and founder of a range of skin care products, tells Metro.co.uk: “ Sun damage through windows is also known as environmental solar UV radiation and most we are exposed to this radiation throughout our daily routine.
‘Many studies have provided evidence that cumulative and excessive exposure to UV radiation can be one of the causes of skin cancers, skin damage, premature skin aging, and sun-related eye disorders.
‘As a result of these data, there have been some major advances in glass photoprotection through the development of specially designed windows and photoprotection films.
‘If you regularly work from home near a window, and particularly if you have Fitzpatrick skin type I to IV; Investing in photographic protection and using sunscreen on exposed areas, including the face, neck, chest, arms and back of the hands, is essential to protect your skin from aging and the most serious risks of skin cancer. ‘
It’s worth noting that you should wear sunscreen even if you’re someone who doesn’t burn easily, who has no previous skin damage, or someone with darker skin, while lighter skin tones are at higher risk, even you need sunscreen.
There’s another reason why it’s vital to wear sunscreen and keep an eye on your skincare routine when you spend your days in front of your laptop screen, and that’s the potential for damage from exposure to blue light (HEV). .
There is no evidence that HEV light, which is also found in natural light, for your information, that we are exposed to through screens can cause skin cancer, but there is a lot of discussion in the world of dermatology on whether the blue light from our screens could cause skin damage in the form of premature aging and discoloration.
Many sunscreens will now include HEV light protection along with UVA and UVB light, so while there is much more evidence that the latter two types of light are the ones to be concerned about, if the fear of looking at the screen can ruin your skin apply sun protection, that’s a great thing.
Along with sunscreen, you’ll want to monitor how your skin responds to the time you spend working from home and treat it accordingly.
But, we repeat, the most important and easiest thing you can do to take care of your skin is to apply sunscreen every day, even when you are going to be indoors.
“The time spent looking at your screen can also affect your facial skin in many ways if it’s not adequately powered by Zoom calls, virtual team meetings, and Internet browsing,” says Emma. ‘Excessive time spent in front of the screen presents a high risk of pigmentation; dry and rough skin formation and possibly eczema and psoriasis outbreaks.
‘This is due in part to blue light exposure, but actually the response I get from customers is that video calls and calls can be intense and stressful for many people, which can also affect the skin.
‘Include an antioxidant moisturizer in your skincare preparation while preparing in the morning.
“I recommend applying a product with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher for those who work from home.”
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