Many products can help you smooth fine lines and look years younger, but one daily step could be the most important of all.
A doctor has explained why SPF is crucial to protect against the signs of ageing, even when it doesn't seem sunny enough outside.
Described as "the most effective anti-ageing step you’re probably skipping", SPF does more than protect you from health risks.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, GP, Dr Nisa Aslam and skin specialist from Hada Labo Tokyo, makers of the leading Japanese skin care range - said the effects of the sun can be seen and felt even on overcast days.
Applying SPF daily is crucial, the doctor explained
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She said: “Exposure to the sun is the number one cause of premature skin ageing – even here in the UK.
"Yet, research commissioned by Hada Labo Tokyo reveals that 85 per cent of women admit to going without sunscreen even in warm weather, with over half of women skipping sunscreen in the hope of getting a better tan.
“The sun can damage the skin in three main ways: UVA, UVB and dehydration. Sun damage can occur even on cloudy days and is responsible for up to 80 per cent of visible ageing."
The sun can damage your skin in different ways, causing visible signs of ageing and more serious health risks.
Dr Aslam explained: "UVA radiation accounts for 95 per cent of the sunlight that reaches Earth, and this is the one which triggers the ageing effects associated with tanning.
"UVA radiation damages collagen and elastin in the skin, which is proven to accelerate the signs of ageing, such as fine lines, pigmentation and saggy skin.
"When photoaging – the scientific term for ageing caused by the sun - is coupled with real-life ageing, it’s double jeopardy for our skin.
"This is because both types of ageing damage the skin’s extracellular matrix – the structure formed of collagen and elastin that supports the cells and keeps skin supple.
“UVB radiation doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply as UVA, but it can cause serious damage to the skin’s upper layers and trigger the DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer."
While most people remember to apply sunscreen while on holiday, or on a particularly hot summer's day, using it more frequently is needed to reap the benefits.
Dr Aslam added: “No matter whether it’s sunny or not, high SPF sunscreen is crucial. To help potentially stall the signs of ageing, a sunscreen that also contains nourishing skin-supporting, super-hydrating ingredients is essential.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Apply a good SPF, whether it is sunny or not
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"Hada Labo Tokyo’s Moisturising Sunscreen Cream for the Face and its Lotion for the Body with SPF 50 gets my recommendation.
"They both contain three different UV filters to provide proven protection from both UVA and UVB. What’s even more impressive is that both sunscreens also contain three forms of the hydrating anti-ageing ingredient, hyaluronic acid.
"A dermatologist-controlled clinical trial showed that all of the women found it easy and pleasant to use; all had fewer wrinkles overall, and the length of wrinkles was reduced for 90 per cent of study participants.”
The benefits of sunscreen on ageing are well-researched, with numerous studies backing this up. Indeed, a randomised trial published in the National Institutes of Health found "regular sunscreen use retards skin aging in healthy, middle-aged men and women".
