We spend long hours near a picture window or a sunny living room, and we wonder if these warm rays have a real effect on our skin. It is also a frequent question when traveling by car or plane: why certain areas of the body seem to sunbathe While we are behind a window? This phenomenon fuels fantasies and received ideas.
The desire to enjoy the sun without exposing directly is tempting. Staying safe at home, while making a golden complexion, would be almost too good to be true. However, before taking out your monoi for a sunbathing session on the sofa, it is better to understand how solar exposure works and what the windows really let.
Broken through a window?
Tanning is the result of a skin defense reaction to UV rays (ultraviolet). The latter are divided into two main categories: UVA and UVB. UVBs are the shortest and most intense, responsible for sunburns and … short -term tan. The UVA, longer, penetrate deeper into the skin, cause premature skin aging and contribute to a more durable tan.
But here it is: classic windows block almost all UVB. Result ? The main ingredient in tanning simply does not reach your skin. As for the UVA, they more easily cross glass. So yes, your skin can receive UVAs Behind a window – which is not necessarily good news.
By car, that’s another story
Drivers know this well: prolonged exposure by car can leave brands. This is particularly true in the United States, where we observe more marked skin aging on the left side of the face, that exposed to the driver’s window. This is explained by the presence of UVA through the side windows. On the other hand, the windshield, treated differently, blocks a larger quantity of these rays.
In other words, if you spend a lot of time by car, your skin can be affected … but without tanning strictly speaking. It is the effects of oxidation and aging that take over.
Should we put sunscreen indoors?
It may seem exaggerated, but if you are frequently exposed to natural light behind a window, the answer is yes. Not to sunbathe, but to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the UVA. The latter are partly responsible for skin aging, pigment spots, and in the long term, of certain skin cancers.
Dermatologists therefore recommend light sun protection (index 15 to 30) for those who spend several hours a day against a window, especially in well -exposed spaces. So no, you will not tan behind your window … But your skin may well suffer.
