Effects of UV rays on skin on cloudy days, benefits of sunscreen in winters and SPF usage in sunscreen

It’s a common myth where most people believe that UV rays won’t reach your skin on cloudy days however the opposite is true. We first need to understand what UV rays are, so UV rays (or ultraviolet light) are an electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength shorter than that of the visible light we see every day so it is basically a light that we cannot see. As most people believe/assume that if there is no sunlight because of clouds there won’t be any UV rays and that is the reason this myth exists.

Now the naturally occurring UV light produced by the sun come in two different flavors; UV-A which is more common, and UV-B which is more potent. While each has a role in skin cancer and eye damage, UV-B is the type responsible for those horrible sunburns.

So Does UV rays penetrate through clouds? Well yes that’s correct. It also depends on the clouds condition or what kind of weather it is outside. If it is a very thick and high density cloud and it has covered the entire sky till the horizon then it is less likely that UV rays can penetrate through clouds. However if it is partly cloudy and sunlight is getting reflected from the edges of clouds then this condition is called ‘cloud enhancement’ of UV rays where clouds reflect and scatter the UV rays and it is not at all good for your skin to go out without sunscreen as it is now too much exposed to UV rays.

Another situation can occur with alto stratus clouds, that can precipitate but still allow some amount of UV rays to go through it due to it small thickness. 

Not just the clouds if it is snow outside and the entire sky is full of thick clouds even then you are exposed to UV rays as thick clouds will stop the UV rays but not all of it and then snow on the ground will reflect it and your skin will be too much exposed to it. The major issue in winter is dryness of skin which can easily be avoided by applying any skin lotion or moisturizer however it will not protect from UV-B rays and that is why a sunscreen that can keep the skin hydrated will be the savior of winters.

Now since we have got the answer that YES UV rays can reach your skin even on cloudy days we must understand that no matter what type of whether it is we must protect ourselves from UV rays and cover ourselves and use sunscreen. Well most people don’t use enough sunscreen, according to the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology), applying only ¼ to ½ of the recommended amount. An adult should use approximately one ounce of sunscreen to cover exposed areas - one ounce is the size of a shot glass. You may need more or less depending on your body size.

Remember to use sunscreen on all exposed areas of your body, including your face, ears, arms and hands. It should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Your lips should be protected with a lip balm with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating to ensure the most protection.

Now you have answer to the question, “Harmful UV rays can reach your skin even on cloudy days?” and what one should do to protect the skin. We have the best product to offer you so that you can explore the world and enjoy beaches without being worried for your skin and that is

Daylight Defense Cream with UV (A/B) Skin Protector. This product is the best when it is about skin and taking care of its health from UV rays as this product has these three features/benefits:-

•    Lightweight formula offers very high invisible clear Zinc board spectrum ( UVA and UVB ) protection
•       Acts as a barrier between the skin and the environment
•       Hydrating