Did you know that 86% of Melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK are preventable?
That is a staggeringly high statistic. Many of these preventions are in your control. We want to give you the right information to make sure you’re being safe in the sun. So here are our top tips you should live by this summer…
Apply your sun cream 30 minutes before going out in the sun and again just before going out. All sun cream has two protection ratings SPF and UVA that work together to protect your skin. They mean:
SPF– protects your skin against UVB, and rated on a scale of 2 to 50+ (the strongest protection)
UVA– UVA star rating measures the amount of UVA protection, up to 5 stars (the higher the better)
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears can give extra protection to parts exposed to the sun that we often forget about. Though straw hats are a cute choice they aren’t the best at sun protection as they often have holes around the brim. Instead choose a tightly woven fabric hat, such as canvas.
In the UK, the sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm from March to October. Try and spend as much of that time as you can in the shade. While in the shade keep an eye out for the position of the sun, as it moves throughout the day your shady spot might become sun-kissed. Reposition yourself or your shading tools regularly.
Get to know your skin and watch for changes. Look for new skin markings like moles, bumps, scaly spots, or places where your skin has changed colour. Watch moles for changes in size, texture, colour or shape.
There’s no such thing as a safe tan. While you might think you have a nice ‘glow’, a tan is evidence of damage done to your skin. Try to avoid purposefully tanning (and using tanning beds). You can always get your tan over the counter.
We ask our resident skincare specialist, Etta, from Tropic Skincare, why wearing suncream is so important…
“80% of all visible facial ageing is caused by the sun. UV rays break down the collagen and elastin in the skin which keeps our skin plump, youthful and elastic. Studies have shown that people who use suncream protection with as little as an SPF 15+ daily show 24% less ageing than those wearing none. More importantly, it is an essential daily habit for skin health and prevention of skin cancer.
Even when it’s an overcast, miserably cloudy day, SPF is still paramount. UV rays bounce off reflective surfaces (even when you are sitting in the shade) and penetrate cloud so even on a dull day your skin is exposed to UV damage. It is so strong it can even penetrate through glass!”
With Etta’s words in mind, here’s some Sun Cream Top Tips so your skin isn’t left feeling red, sore and sad.
- Aim to apply around 6 to 8 teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re covering your entire body.
- Sun cream needs to be applied: 30 minutes before going out and just before going out.
- Sun cream should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair.
- Reapply straight after you have been in water, even if it’s “water resistant”, after towel drying or sweating.
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin.
