Myth: "It's cloudy today, so I don't need to apply sunscreen."

Fact: UVA and UVB rays from the sun are not blocked by clouds or windows. Therefore, protect yourself well all year round.

The sun emits 3 types of ultraviolet radiation toward the earth, 2 of which cannot be blocked by the ozone layer and thus reach our skin. These rays are called UVA, UVB, and UVC.

Fortunately, UVC is blocked by our ozone layer, but the other two easily pass through clouds and windows. Hence why we must protect ourselves against these rays every day, even when it rains and even in winter. But what if you stay indoors all day without a window (or with only a small window and limited view of the sky)? In that case, no need to panic if you forgot your sun protection.

Imagine this

Upon arriving at Layer 2, UV rays can cause our skin to burn. The melanin present here will absorb these UV rays to protect the skin. This causes discoloration on the skin: redness, pigmentation (temporary exposure causes freckles, and prolonged exposure causes age spots). When reaching Layer 3, UV rays will attack our cells and collagen. This leads to faster skin aging and an increased risk of skin cancer.