Do You Really Need Sunscreen Every Day?

Yes, on any day your skin sees daylight. The sun’s rays that age skin are present all year, pass through clouds and come through window glass, so the exposure adds up on days when you never feel the sun at all. A broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, applied to your face, neck and any other exposed skin each morning, is the single most useful thing you can do for how your skin looks over time.

Why does sunscreen matter on days you do not burn?

Sunlight reaches your skin as two kinds of ultraviolet light.

• UVB is the one that burns. It is strongest in late spring and summer and in the middle of the day.
• UVA does not burn as readily, so you do not feel it. It reaches deeper into the skin and is the main cause of the changes people think of as aging: fine lines, dark spots and loss of firmness. It is present from sunrise to sunset in every season.

Both kinds contribute to skin cancer. A sunburn is the damage you can see. The slow, daily exposure is the damage you cannot see until years later.

Do you need sunscreen when it is cloudy or you are indoors?

On cloudy days, yes. Clouds block some ultraviolet light, but a good share still gets through, which is how people burn at a ball game on an overcast afternoon.

Indoors, it depends. Ordinary window glass blocks most UVB and lets much of the UVA through. If you drive a lot or sit near a window, your skin is getting exposure. If you truly spend the whole day inside, away from windows, sunscreen matters much less that day.

The practical answer is to put it on every morning anyway. A habit you do without thinking is more reliable than a decision you make each day based on the forecast.

What SPF should you use on your face?

Dermatologists generally recommend SPF 30 or higher, labeled broad spectrum. SPF measures protection against UVB only. “Broad spectrum” on the label means the product also protects against UVA.

SPF 30 filters about 97 percent of UVB. Higher numbers add a little more. No sunscreen blocks everything. How much you apply, and how often, matters more than the difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50.

How much sunscreen do you need, and how often?

• Amount. About a nickel-sized amount for your face, and more for your neck and ears. Most people use far less than that, which means they get less protection than the label says.
• Order. Sunscreen goes on last in your morning routine, after moisturizer and before makeup. There is more in what order your skincare products should go in.
• Reapplying. If you are outdoors, reapply every two hours, and after swimming or sweating. On an ordinary indoor workday, the morning application is usually enough.

The spots people miss most: ears, the back of the neck, the hairline, the backs of the hands and the lips. A lip balm with SPF covers the last one.

Is the SPF in makeup or moisturizer enough?

A moisturizer with SPF 30 can be enough for everyday use if you apply a generous amount. Foundation or powder with SPF usually is not, because nobody wears enough of it to reach the number on the label. Think of SPF in makeup as a bonus on top of sunscreen.

Will sunscreen make you break out?

It can if the formula is too heavy for your skin. That is a reason to change sunscreens, not to skip them. Look for a lightweight product made for the face, and one labeled non-comedogenic if your skin clogs easily. Then wash it off properly at night.

When does sunscreen matter most?

• From now through September. May is when the sun gets strong in central Illinois and everyone moves outside at once, for graduations, ball games, planting, mowing and Memorial Day at the lake.
• When you use retinol or exfoliating acids. Retinol and glycolic products make skin more sensitive to the sun. If they are in your routine, daily sunscreen is part of the deal.
• After a facial. Freshly exfoliated skin burns more easily for several days.
• After waxing. The same is true of freshly waxed skin.
• If you are working on dark spots. Sun darkens them again faster than any product can fade them.

One more practical note: sunscreen breaks down in heat. A bottle that spent last summer in the car is not one to rely on, and neither is one past its expiration date.

What sunscreen cannot do

Sunscreen prevents damage. It does not reverse what is already there, and it works best alongside a hat and some shade in the middle of the day.

It is also no substitute for having your skin checked. If you notice a new mole, or a spot that changes, bleeds or does not heal, see a doctor or dermatologist. That is not something an esthetician or a skincare product can assess.

Where to start

Pick a facial sunscreen you like the feel of, because that is the one you will wear. The shop carries Sheer Protection SPF 30 and a Lip Balm with SPF 15.

If the sun has already left your skin looking dull or uneven, a facial can help with the surface of it. The Deluxe Facial clears away dead skin, and the Anti-Aging Facial focuses on hydration and fine lines. You can see all the facials with current prices, and book an appointment online whenever it suits you.