Habit Hack: The Truth About Sun and Skin
Understand the impact of sun exposure on your skin with these key statistics.
Visible Skin Ageing
UV exposure contributes to up to 80% of visible skin ageing, including wrinkles and age spots.
Sunscreen and Ageing
People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily show 24% less skin ageing than those who do not use sunscreen daily.
Cumulative Sun Damage
- Age 18: individuals receive 23% of their lifetime UV exposure.
- Ages 19-40: individuals receive 47% of their lifetime UV exposure.
- Ages 41-59: individuals receive 74% of their lifetime UV exposure.
- Ages 60-78: individuals receive 100% of their lifetime UV exposure.
UV Radiation Penetration
UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, causing long-term damage and ageing, while UVB rays cause sunburn and direct DNA damage.
Peak UV Hours
UV radiation is strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM; avoiding direct sunlight during these hours can significantly reduce UV exposure.
Myth |
Fact |
|
You can't get sun damage on a cloudy day. |
Up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate through clouds. |
|
A base tan protects you from further sun damage. |
A base tan only provides minimal protection equivalent to SPF 3 or less. |
|
Darker skin tones don't need sunscreen. |
All skin tones can suffer from sun damage and should use sunscreen. |
|
You don't need sunscreen indoors. |
UVA rays can penetrate glass, so sunscreen is necessary even indoors. |
|
Sunscreen prevents you from getting enough Vitamin D. |
You can still get sufficient Vitamin D with regular, brief sun exposure while using sunscreen. |
