The Beauty Diary: Apple Watch function that beats wrinkles
It is best known for its fitness benefits – but there’s a hidden feature in your Apple Watch that could be the answer to a problem we’d all like to solve.
There’s a lot of handy features in an Apple Watch – but I recently discovered one tool inside the fancy gadget gives the only skincare advice you’ll ever need.
Among the many tools on this slick piece of arm candy, a Series 6 Apple Watch, is a UV index gauge that alerts wearers to the strength of the suns rays.
The icon on the watch face displays a number between 0 and 11, indicating the intensity of damaging UV radiations.
While the tool itself can’t beat your wrinkles, understanding how to read the it can help you prevent sunburn, premature skin ageing and even avoid skin cancer, keeping your skin healthy and happy.
Intrigued? I thought you might be. Here’s how it works.
READING THE UV index
Understanding how to read the UV index and knowing when it’s important to wear SPF is vital in order to reap the skin-saving rewards Dr Michela Sorensen, GP and health expert, told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary.
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“Unfortunately temperature is not a marker of UV severity, and the level of UV radiation can be just as high on a cool day as it is on a warm day,” she said.
“That’s why the UV index is so important – this is a tool that categorises the severity of UV radiation on a particular day.”
Michela explained the UV index is divided into levels, with the lowest being a UV index of 1-2, ranging all the way up to extreme, which is a level of 11.
“With each UV index level there are specific recommendations on the steps you should take to protect yourself from sun damage,” Michaela continued.
“While prolonged exposure at any UV index has the potential to damage skin cells, a UV index of 3 (moderate) indicates the potential for sun damage safety measures are recommended.
“A UV index of 6 or above is high and indicates sun exposure should be minimised where possible, especially during the hottest parts of the day (11am-4pm).”
It’s because of this, the Apple Watch’s UV index gauge is your skin’s new BFF, alongside hats, sunscreen, appropriate clothing and sunglasses.
WHAT SUNSCREEN TO USE
“I think we all know the phrase, ‘Slip, slop, slap’, and I cannot reinforce enough how important that is,” Michaela said.
“Obviously avoiding being in direct sunlight when the UV index is high is the most important step, however as we all know, sometimes sun exposure is unavoidable.
“When the UV index is high (level 6 and above), even walking across the street or waiting at a bus stop can result in damage to our skin, particularly if you are on the fairer side.”
This is why Michaela stresses (and I have heaps of times in the past too) sunscreen should be a part of your every day skin care routine – especially if you want to prevent wrinkles and pigmentation.
When it comes to choosing an SPF, Michaela recommends a board spectrum sunscreen as this protects from both UVA and UVB radiation.
“UVA, which is 95% of the sun’s UV rays, is responsible for premature ageing, wrinkles and some skin cancers.
“UVB is about 5% of the UV radiation that reaches the ground and is responsible for the delayed sunburn and skin cancers. So you need to ensure your sunscreen protects you from both types.”
She also said that choosing a high SPF was “imperative” – so for us Australians, think factor 50 as anything less won’t cut it.
“SPF is the amount of time it takes for the skin to burn compared to when no protection is used at all,” she said.
“So an SPF of 50+ means it will take 50 times longer to burn. Applying 20 minutes before sun exposure is also key to ensure the sunscreen has time to absorb.”
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