Here's Why You Need Sun Protection All Year Long

To understand why slathering on SPF should be a step in your skin care routine 365 days a year, here's a quick science lesson on ultraviolet radiation: "The sun emits ultraviolet radiation, and those rays come down from the sun regardless of clouds or windows," explains Purvisha Patel, MD, dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in Memphis. "They go through any surface visible light can go through."

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), up to 80 percent of the sun's rays can penetrate your skin on cloudy days. "You may be at even higher risk [for sun damage] on partially overcast days because UV rays can bounce off of the edges of clouds, amplifying the harmful impacts," says Batra. "The same reflective effect for UV occurs off of snow, ice, bodies of water, sandy beaches or even concrete."

There are two types of UV rays you have to worry about: UVA and UVB. "Although UVA generally doesn't cause the bright red sunburn that we've all come to associate with sun damage, it does cause wrinkling, color and textural changes in the skin and, most importantly, skin cancer," says Papri Sarkar, MD, dermatologist in Brookline, Massachusetts. "UVB, which causes sunburn, also causes skin cancer—so really you have to make sure that you're protecting yourself all year long."

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