Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis is crucial for healthy skin since it protects it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but what if there are a lot of clouds in the sky blocking most of the sunlight? Is it still safe to go outside without protection?
Unfortunately, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, we are all still predisposed to the sun’s damaging rays even when it’s cloudy, which is why we should be applying sunscreen everyday! Just because you can’t directly feel the warm sunlight doesn’t mean you’re not exposing yourself to UVA and UVB rays. This is because clouds only absorb very little radiation emitted by the sun, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at around 11% to 27%. “Clear skies allow virtually 100% of UV to pass through, scattered clouds transmit 89%, broken clouds transmit 73%, and overcast skies transmit 31%,” EPA reports.
Personally, I’ve created a habit of wearing sunscreen on my face since it has become a part of my daily skincare routine, so I almost always remember to apply it. However, only recently I’ve been using sunscreen on my upper body like my arms, neck, and chest when I go out and wear clothing that doesn’t cover up those areas, so I often forget to use sunscreen. Here in the Caribbean, it’s especially important to apply some because of the scorching sun, even when I know it’ll be cloudy. Of course, the humidity doesn’t help either, so the least I want to do is wear long sleeves for extra protection. Nevertheless, I always carry an extra bottle of sunscreen in my car and bag just in case I ever fail to remember.
One might think that the clouds are shading our skin from being burned and damaged, and to a certain degree they are. However, it doesn’t mean that you should ditch sunscreen altogether. All in all, regardless of the weather, everyone should protect their skin when going out. Consider wearing sunglasses, hats, using umbrellas or long-sleeved clothing especially during hot days to protect yourself from the sun! Trust me, your skin will thank you in the future.