Should Sunscreen Be Used Indoors?

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The same ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun that are harmful outdoors pass right through windows into offices, homes and cars. Experts say this is a serious contributor to people's daily accumulation of indoor UV exposure leading to skin cancer and photoaging.

"If you're sitting next to a window with sunlight streaming in, you're at risk for UV damage to your skin and eyes," said Darrell Smith, executive director of the International Window Film Association (IWFA), a nonprofit group representing the many benefits of window film for consumers, on behalf of leading manufacturers, distributors and dealers. "Window film brings automatic and continuous protection indoors without the need to take action in the form of sunblock," added Smith.

Residential and commercial window films can also reduce glare by more than half while allowing 30–80% of visible light in and blocking up to 99.9% of the sun's UV rays. Window film protects from the dangers of the sun while letting in natural light, safely.

Many dermatologists suggest using sunblock inside the home, but knowing people often forget this extra step, window film can provide 24x7 protection indoors and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends it.

Dermatologists note a wide body of evidence showing that cumulative, ongoing exposure to UV rays leads to skin aging and cancer, according to a report in Clinical Interventions In Aging. In addition, automobiles, side windows and sunroofs may also let in harmful rays and people who drive frequently often have pronounced sun damage and skin cancer on their left side as documented in the The New England Journal of Medicine.

To make people more aware of this danger, and how they can protect themselves, the IWFA offers a free consumer booklet: www.iwfa.com/ConsumerInfo/Literature/ConsumerBookletWindowFilmBeauty.aspx.

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