Why is Sunscreen Essential During the Monsoon Season

As the monsoon season approaches, many individuals tend to believe that sunscreen is no longer necessary due to the cloudy sky and less sunshine. It's crucial to understand, however, that harmful UV rays can still enter our environment through clouds and harm our skin regardless of the weather. In this blog post, we'll talk about the importance of sunscreen during the monsoon season and why it should be an essential part of your skincare routine.

Understanding the Impacts of UV Rays

UV rays are the sun's invisible rays, which can damage our skin in a number of ways. While UVB rays cause sunburn and can raise the risk of skin cancer, UVA rays speed up the aging process. Even on overcast or rainy days, our skin is still at risk from UVA and UVB rays since 70% of it still  passes through windows and clouds, respectively.

Effects of UV Radiation During the Monsoon Season

Despite the overcast and wet weather during the monsoon season, UV (ultraviolet) radiation impacts can still be severe. Although UV rays are frequently linked with summer and sunny days, it is important to understand that UV rays can still reach the Earth's surface even when it is cloudy or rainy. Here are some important details about how UV radiation affects you during the monsoon season:

1. UV Radiation and Cloud Cover: Clouds can disperse and partially absorb UV radiation, lessening the intensity of glare from the sun. Cloud cover does not completely block UV rays, and some may still pass through, potentially causing skin damage and other impacts.
2. UV Index: The UV Index is a scale that describes the intensity of UV radiation at the surface of the Earth. The UV Index can vary, even during the monsoon season, and on days when there are breaches in the cloud cover, it can increase to levels that are dangerous for the skin and eyes.
3. Skin Damage: Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can harm the skin, increasing the risk of skin cancer, sunburn, and early aging. People can still get burnt even on cloudy days if they spend a lot of time outside without protection.
4. UV ray eye damage is another potential side effect. Long-term UV radiation exposure can cause eye illnesses like cataracts and other problems with the eyes.
5. Vitamin D Production: It's important to remember that while excessive UV exposure can be detrimental, our systems need a moderate amount of UVB radiation to produce vitamin D. Some people may have lower amounts of vitamin D during the monsoon season since there is less sunlight.
6. During the monsoon season, it is essential to take protective precautions against UV radiation. Wearing proper clothes that protect the skin is one of them, as is using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, donning UV-protective sunglasses, and looking for cover when the UV Index is high.

Additional Tips for Sun Protection during the Monsoon Season

Certainly! Additional sun safety advice for the monsoon season is provided below:

1. Use sunscreen: Even on cloudy days, cover exposed skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF. To guarantee that your sunscreen is still effective when it rains, choose one that is waterproof or water resistant.
2. Cover-Up: To reduce exposure to UV radiation, dress in breathable, lightweight clothing that covers your arms, legs, and neck. Choose light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to protect yourself from the sun.
3. Put on a hat: Cover your face, neck, and ears with a hat with a wide brim. Sunburn risk is reduced and this helps shield these delicate areas from direct sunshine.
4. Protect Your Eyes: To shield your eyes from dangerous rays, put on sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. To lessen glare and further protect your eyes, go for sunglasses that include UV 400 or polarized lenses.
5. Seek Shade: Try to stay as much as you can in shaded areas when the sun is at its zenith or the UV Index is high. To lessen exposure to UV radiation, seek cover behind trees, umbrellas, or canopies.
6. Avoid Sunlamps and Tanning Beds: Sunlamps and tanning beds generate concentrated UV radiation that can damage your skin and raise your chance of developing skin cancer.
7. Take Vitamin D Supplements: To maintain optimal levels of vitamin D throughout the monsoon season, take into consideration talking to a healthcare provider about vitamin D supplements.

Using sunscreen correctly

• All exposed skin, including the face, arms, and legs, should get a liberal application of sunscreen.
• Don't forget to pay attention to places that are frequently overlooked, like the hands, neck, and ears.
• To give sunscreen time to soak into the skin, apply it at least 15-20 minutes before going outside.
• Apply sunscreen again every two hours, especially if you are perspiring a lot or come in contact with water.

The Bottom Line:

Whether it's raining or cloudy outside during the monsoon season, sunscreen is still a crucial part of our skincare routine. UV rays can damage our skin, causing sunburn, early aging, and a higher chance of developing skin cancer. We can properly protect our skin by comprehending the need for sunscreen and using suitable application procedures. No matter the weather, make it a habit to use sunscreen every day for healthier, more beautiful skin through the monsoon season and beyond.