You should wear sunscreen everyday, even in winter.Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that cause skin cancer and aging are present all year round. Sun protection should be applied daily, even in winter. UV’s are responsible for sunburn, skin aging – pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines, skin cancer etc.  The Highlights about sunscreen are as follows:

• Not wearing sunscreen is part of the reason you are getting darker when you begin a new routine.
• Not wearing sunscreen can slow down your treatment for hyperpigmentation
• Wear sunscreen even when you are a home except you have a black out curtain
• Do not skip sunscreen on cloudy days or in winter, UV rays are still active and it is not measured by weather temperature. You can have sunburn even when it is cloudy.
• Wear sunscreen if you are using any skincare actives because they make the skin more sensitive to UV damage, you will tan faster or your hyperpigmentation will get worse. 

To ensure you are using enough sunscreen: Do this?

• Use a sufficient amount,  you can use the 3 finger rule to apple or a quarter of a teaspoon (or 1.25ml) as a good measure for both face and neck.
• Don’t wear a low spf, 30 and above will be great.
• Do not rely on the spf in your make up for protection. 
• Spend time in the shade  and wear suitable clothing when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.
• Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears.
• Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s also recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin.

Make sunscreen a habit, to avoid paying a heavy price!