If you live in a country that follows daylight savings time changes, you’ll probably shudder when you hear the words “spring forward”. If you’ve read our previous post, you’ll know that time changes can disrupt our sleep-wake cycles, also known as circadian rhythms. According to CBC News, the spring forward time change is considered a public health concern, and can even lead to increased risks of heart attacks and traffic and workplace accidents. However, these aren’t the only points of concern surrounding the time change. With lasting daylight comes increased opportunity for sun exposure, and if we aren’t careful, this can have detrimental effects on our skin health.
As the phrase implies, in daylight savings time the sun sets later in the day, meaning you may be exposed to more sun than you’re used to when heading home from work or school. Even if you’re driving home rather than walking, you could still be exposing your skin to dangerous levels of UVA radiation while in the car. Unless you’ll be traveling home underground, it’s a good idea to carry broad-spectrum sunscreen with you and apply it before leaving.
According to WebMD, to help minimize disruptions to your sleep schedule, try your best to expose yourself to light when the sun is out, and avoid light when the sun is down, especially during the night. Getting enough exercise during the day can also help you to sleep better, as will eliminating caffeine and alcohol towards the end of the day.¹Losing sleep is never fun, but it’s this time change that we can thank for lasting daylight in the Spring and Summer seasons. Remember to use Sun Index to monitor the sunrise and sunset times for your specific location. This will help you to plan out what kind of sun protection you’ll need for the day.
- Breus, M. J. (2003). How Sleep Is Affected by Time Changes. Retrieved March 2, 2017
