Living in the Southwest where sunshine is abundant, it’s important to take the proper precautions to care for your skin. It’s recommended that you wear sunscreen daily as well as sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats when you’re outdoors. Also, it’s important to protect your skin year-round, not just during the summer. Though the temperature may drop and the sunlight be less abundant in the winter, the amount of solar UV radiation that reaches the Earth is still intense.
However, you may not realize that you need to protect your skin when you’re indoors, too. UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn and strongest in the summer, but UVA rays remain constant throughout the year. UVA rays are less intense than UVB rays, but they are 30-50 percent more prevalent. What’s even more startling is that these rays can go through glass, which is why you need to protect yourself indoors as well.
UVA Rays are Strong Enough to Pass through Glass
The Skin Cancer Foundation states that UVA rays have grown significantly over the last few decades and are strong enough to penetrate through glass, particularly windows in the home and car. This is important news for people who regularly sit near a window at home or at work, as well as those who have long commutes by car, train or bus.
A report published in Clinical Interventions in Aging found that eight women and two men had significantly more wrinkles, brown spots and sagging skin on one side of the face, even though they had indoor jobs. Yet because these individuals sat by windows that let in sunlight, they had substantially more damage to the skin on one side of the face. The culprit is believed to be UVA rays, since UVB rays are blocked by glass. Nearly 50% of UVA rays can pass through windows.
Experts Recommend Applying Window Film
With this information in mind, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to keep your skin protected at home, work and in the car. The best way to do this is by wearing sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends applying window film to home, work and car windows. Solar window film blocks nearly 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Arizona Solar Control provides window tinting for homes and businesses. Our products block 99% of ultraviolet rays and carry a factory lifetime warranty. They also protect furniture, drapes and flooring from fading and reject the sun’s solar energy, lowering utility bills and energy usage. Start protecting your health today!
