'Sun protection is not for women alone, men too need it'

Be it summer or winter, there’s no escaping the sun. Men, if you thought that sun protection is a bastion of women alone, you couldn’t be further from the truth and Sunita Ramnathkar, the former promoter of Fem Care Pharma agrees. For men looking for basic beauty advice, Ramnathkar says that the most important skincare ritual is to apply moisturiser and following it up with sunscreen.

Which sunscreen to use is also an important factor to consider. “Most people pick up sunscreen made in Western countries, but what they often forget is that sun is not as harsh there as it is India,” she says, adding that creams from European countries protect against UV A rays, which is of little use in India.

“People there are more exposed to UV A rays, which attacks the collagen and causes wrinkles, for which a UV A cream works best. But in India, we are exposed to UV B rays which affect the outer layer of the skin, making us tan faster. So, a UV B sunscreen in an SPF 40 or above is ideal for Indian conditions.” Hope the men are taking note.