For me, as a Skin Therapist and a (mostly) reformed sun-bunny, it has become second nature to wear sunscreen daily, and it is my professional obligation to educate and encourage my clients to do the same. It’s one of the first things we learn in Beauty Therapy School, but the reasons why sunscreen application is important have become more varied, and the sources of damage more prolific. In this blog, I wanted to address some often overlooked sources of damage, as well as ways to protect the skin and tips and tricks for choosing the ideal SPF.

Location Education

It’s not surprising to most people that we need sunscreen at the beach, or during the long summer months. It often does take more understanding to wrap our head around the importance of wearing sunscreen every single day, even on a cold, gloomy grey day or while working in an office all day. 

We know that strong, overhead UV light from the sun causes significant (& insidious) damage, even more so if you live at a high altitude. In New Zealand, our UVA (A for “ageing”) rays are consistently high all year round and are quietly damaging skin, even during a gloomy winter day, and especially at altitude. Yet, it’s not just our outdoor spaces that require the use of protection. Blue light, overhead fluorescent lighting and multiple devices that emit “junk light” all contribute to photo-ageing. 

What Does Light Damage Mean?

Maybe we could consider reimagining the phrase “sun damage” to be instead “light damage.” By changing our vocabulary, we bring attention to where the damage originates. If you are in overhead lighting in an office, next to a window at your house, if you are working on a computer or looking at a phone or tablet, if you are driving in your car during the day: you are being exposed to damaging light…

Beyond causing eye strain and fatigue, the blue light from our screens has been shown to increase pigmentation in the skin and the formation of wrinkles. The wavelengths of blue light from our devices penetrate into the skin, causing more oxidative stress in the cells. We need to protect our skin from blue-light pollution by wearing both sunscreen and a topical antioxidant and understand the WHY behind the two important phases. 

We all need a reminder: Your screen time is ageing your skin unless you protect it!

Even if you aren’t computer-bound for work, your screen time may occur in the evening. Even at night, if  you’re going to be close to a screen, you should use a topical antioxidant and sunscreen combined, considering reapplication after a days work before your skin is further exposed to light emitting devices.

Antioxidants and Sun Care

Do we need more than a “sunscreen” to protect us from sun/UV/junk light? 

Topical antioxidants and sunscreen ingredients work in different ways to protect the skin. A topical antioxidant, such as Kakadu plum (Bioavailable Vitamin C) penetrates the skin to absorb free radicals, which inhibits their ability to cause cellular damage. Sunscreen works by absorbing or screening light, preventing the formation of excess free radicals. The two classes of ingredients work in tandem, by providing the necessary protection to help ease the resulting effects of light damage such as hyperpigmentation, or loss of collagen and elastin.

The sunscreens I choose to recommend often have antioxidants listed in their ingredients deck, proven to protect skin from everyday environmental aggressors at the cellular level , ensuring total protection from junk light and also targeting Solar elastosis, (also known as actinic elastosis)- a condition that leads to a collection of abnormal elastin (elastic tissue) and loss of collagen in the lower layers of the skin due to the harmful effects of UVR. Considered the most common disorder of sun damage, solar elastosis appears on areas that receive persistent sun exposure, such as face, back and sides of the neck, V area of the neck and upper chest, and backs of hands. In its most common appearance, solar elastosis presents as heavily thickened, wrinkled, yellow skin

Even if your day involves nothing more than sitting inside in front of a screen, you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with antioxidant benefits. I also advise turning on Night Shift on the iPhone or Night filter on your android devices. These settings will make the phone’s tones warmer, filtering out some of the blue light. Also, limit holding your phone up to the ear when talking. Everyone is used to earbuds these days, and using them keeps the screen away from your skin.

The “Driving” Factor to Sun Damage

Driving contributes to light damage in profound ways as well. Look closely in the mirror or at your hands, and you will likely find your driving side shows more signs of sun damage. Tinting the windows in your car is the first step. It’s an investment that will protect not only the interior of your car, but your skin as well. To further protect the hands, it is a good idea, when applying your skin care in the morning to use the back of your non-dominant hand as a pallet. Take the product you’ve placed on your hand and apply it to your face, neck, and décolleté, and then rub the backs of your hands together. This way, you are not wasting product, and you are protecting your hands.

Sunscreen can be kept in the car for touch-ups, just remember that heat breaks down cream sunscreen over time. Many foundations contain iron oxides, which provide a slight physical barrier. Foundation should never be the only choice for protection, even if it contains iron oxides or a high SPF. Most people don’t use enough of it to provide proper protection. The amount of foundation needed to provide light protection would not be flattering. Still, it does work as another protective step.

During the winter months, it may feel instinctive to put your sunscreen aside until the sun re-emerges, but don’t do it. As we spend more and more time indoors, consider how much damage overhead lighting and the blue light from screens damage the skin. Our sunscreens also contain zinc, which as well as shielding skin from UVR, is also antioxidant and healing and can be extra-soothing to skin that’s been irritated by dry, cold air.

We’ve all come to recognise how dangerous the sun is to our skin, but the damage other sources of light cause the skin is often overlooked. 

Contact us here to discover the best environmental defence for you at a CSW skin consultation