Sun Protection: 6 Myths And Facts That Can Make or Break Your Skincare Journey

Applying sun protection is as essential as drinking water. This crucial step in any skincare routine protects the skin from UV rays and prevents long-term skin issues caused by sun exposure. Despite these benefits, a lot of skepticism surrounds sunscreen use, thanks to contradictory information out there. In this article, we separate the most common myths about sun protection from the facts.

Fact: Unless you live in a dungeon, your house likely has windows and other portals to the outside world through which sunlight can pass. In short, no, you’re not completely protected from UV rays at home. While typical home, car, and office windows can block most UVB rays, they cannot completely protect you from UVA rays.

The American Cancer Society notes that because UVB rays are more associated with burning, it’s unlikely that you’ll notice any difference in your skin. However, UVA rays can still do a lot of long-term damage in the form of photoaging.

Fact: You do need sunscreen even on cloudy or windy days. The Cancer Council of Australia points out that UV rays, not temperature, cause sun damage. The temperature has nothing to do with UV rays. If your skin gets red after walking outside on a cool or windy day, it’s likely to be sunburned. Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours, or immediately after sweating a lot or swimming.

Fact: Most cosmetics don’t have a high enough sun protection factor. Remember that experts recommend an SPF 30 or higher and you must reapply throughout the day. After your skin care, apply sunscreen on your bare skin before putting on makeup. If you’re going to be under the sun a lot, expect to have to take off your makeup and reapply sunscreen. Use POND'S UV Bright Sunscreen under your makeup to protect your skin. It also brightens dark spots, improves skin tone, and prevents premature skin aging.

Fact: Melanin indeed protects from the sun’s UV rays. A study in the National Institutes of Health shows that those with whiter skin are approximately 70 times more likely to get skin cancer than those with dark skin. However, research notes that the sun protection capability of the latter is only equivalent to an SPF 4 sunscreen. It is not enough. Even if your morena skin doesn't burn easily, SPF is still a must.

Fact: You don't need sunbathing to get vitamin D. According to the Cancer Council, you can get enough vitamin D with just a few minutes of sun exposure doing routine things, such as walking to your car, watering your plants outdoors, or buying stuff at the store.

Harvard Health also notes that while sunscreen does block UVB rays, which is responsible for vitamin D synthesis, you’re unlikely to apply enough sunscreen to give yourself a vitamin D deficiency. Furthermore, the Philippines is near the equator, which means you get vitamin D all year round. Sunscreen shouldn't hamper your vitamin D dose.

To make things more efficient, use a Vaseline lotion with SPF. Vaseline Healthy Bright SPF24 PA++ Sun + Pollution Protection Body Lotion not only does it protect your skin from UVB rays but brightens your skin in the process. This SPF body lotion is also fast-absorbent and doesn't leave your skin feeling sticky, even after a day in the sun.

Fact: Not getting sunburned is not a good gauge of the extent of UV damage to your skin. Darker skin doesn’t burn as easily as lighter skin tones, but it can still suffer from cumulative UV damage. The Cancer Council also notes that there’s no such thing as a safe tan. If your skin darkens, this means there is trauma to the skin cells even if your skin is not red, peeling, or painful.

Understanding the basics of sun protection prevents painful sunburn and other cumulative effects of UV exposure, such as photoaging and skin cancer. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is enough to protect you from sun rays if you apply it correctly and frequently.