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The sun, sunscreens and you

Too much sun is simply perilous to skin, so it's important to protect your precious skin from damaging exposure. Don't think that you're OK because it's winter or the sun isn't out in full force - you're in danger even under these conditions.

Here we review just why the sun can be so damaging to your skin - from producing brown spots to causing wrinkles - and how to protect yourself with a sunscreen selected for your type of skin.

What causes sunburn and skin damage?
There are two kinds of ultraviolet rays that reach the earth's surface: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). UVB rays cause your skin to show the signs of sunburn, but most sunscreens protect against them. These rays are also partially screened out by the ozone layer, an invisible shield that protects us from the sun. But over the years the ozone layer has become thinner, so we're getting more exposure.

UVA rays don't burn your skin, but they do contribute the most damage. They penetrate your skin more deeply and affect the cells on a molecular level. That's why it's important to look for a sunscreen that will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA damage results not only in wrinkles and sagging skin, but can also cause skin cancer. And UVA intensifies with altitude, so it's particularly important to protect yourself when skiing or mountain climbing.

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