Let's Talk Ageing & UV Rays

Let's Talk Ageing!

A study by dermatologists at Monash University has found that Australian women appear to be ageing as much as two decades faster than women in Europe, Canada and the US. Eek!

The study found that “high UV levels put Australians at particular risk of photo-ageing, especially when combined with Australians’ traditional outdoor, sun-seeking lifestyle and a predominantly fair-skinned population.”

As Australians spend time lots of their time outside all year round (unlike their counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere) Australians’ cumulative sun exposure is far greater. The study compared the faces of 1,472 women from Australia, Canada, the UK and US and found sun exposure to be the main cause of ageing.

A significant part of the study was that, compared to the US, Australians seem to be losing weight in their face volume and face (which is a marker for ageing) much quicker.

It’s important to note that even if we’re not getting burnt, we’re still exposed to ageing UVA rays, which are at dangerous levels all day long and can penetrate glass. So, it’s important to use a good SPF that protects against UVA rays and UVB rays. Nude-E has you covered for both UVA and UVB rays and is light enough to wear on a daily basis, even on the days when it’s cloudy and overcast. 

As a rule of thumb, when the UV index is above a 2 rating, you should be using sunscreen. On average, Hobart will see 4 months of the year when they may not be required to wear sunscreen, Melbourne 3 months, Adelaide and Canberra 2 months and Sydney and Perth 1 month. Brisbane and Perth may be required to wear sunscreen on a daily basis all year round depending on the UV index of the day.  

Table 1: Australian capital city average daily maximum UV levels by month15