Cause #1: Sun Exposure
The sun is the number one cause of dark patches. Sunlight comprises both UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays cause tanning and sunburns, while UVA rays cause pigmentation problems, patches, sunspots and even aging! In India, we are closer to the equator, and hence we receive direct sunrays, compared to Western nations. Furthermore, the pollution in India erodes the atmosphere’s protection from harmful UV light, making our sun exposure even worse. Additionally, most people in India are not aware that UV light penetrates through windows, clouds and rain, so they tend not to wear sun protection during these times.
The most important thing to do is to practice sun avoidance and wear sun protection. The hours of 10AM to 3PM are when the sun is at its strongest, making it the worst time to be outside. So, try to do your errands either in the late afternoon or early morning. Sun protection is also extremely important. In fact, recent data has proven that aggressive sunblock usage can even prevent the appearance of aging! Remember to wear sunblock every 3-4 hours and apply it at least 30 minutes before going outside. Also, look for both UVA and UVB blocking of at least SPF30++ to get the best sun protection.