In the dark days of winter most of us look forward to summer, with long sunny days spending any leisure time soaking up those rays. But with our unpredictable British climate it’s all too easy to ignore the warnings of the damage that sunlight can do to the skin, damage which is irreversible. It’s vital to protect your skin, even on a hot sunny lunch break in the park and not just on a foreign holiday. As many as 26 percent of us never bother to use a sunscreen, even when sunbathing in the full sun on the beach, where there’s little shade. This makes us vulnerable to permanent damage and even to skin cancer.
Staying safe and getting a tan is easy, with our simple guide.
1. We All Need to Use Sunscreen
Some people think they don’t need to use a sunscreen because they tan easily, when the browning is actually a sign of the skin trying to protect itself by producing more melanin, which gives it the colour. Whatever your skin tone you can still burn and age your skin, even though darker skin tones have more natural protection.
2. A Little Suncream Is All You Need to Use – No, No, No!
You must apply liberally to be of any use. As a guide; 6-8 teaspoons for your whole body, at least, and you need to apply it 15 – 20 minutes before you go out into the sunlight. Reapply every couple of hours and even more if you go in swimming, even if the product is water resistant. Make an application of sunscreen part of your daily routine before you go out.
3. You Still Need Protection on Cloudy Days
UV rays cause the damage and the harmful levels are not related to temperature, so cool bright days can also damage your skin. You need to wear a sunscreen with a 5* UVA filter, and even if you’re indoors, behind glass windows, and even in front of light surfaces those rays can penetrate! OK so maybe you think this is a bit over the top, but over 80% of the signs of ageing are caused by our environment, and 78% of women who always use a sunscreen are likely to have younger looking skin! That’s enough to convince us.
4. Moisturiser with An SPF Is Not Enough
For sunbathing and in bright sunlight these really don’t do the job. You need the sunscreen creams, and applied in
a thicker layer than you would use a normal moisturiser, and they are also water resistant.
5. For Acne Prone Skin
Chose a sunscreen cream designed for facial skin, which is a non-greasy dry touch gel formula. Then your pores won’t clog and cause spots. Body creams tend to be heavier and greasier. Don’t forget those tender body parts which are normally hidden, such as back of neck, fronts of your feet and thighs. Even earlobes can burn and so can lips.
So, as you can see it’s not difficult or expensive to have a golden tan without damaging your skin and the ageing statistics show how it really is worth the effort to keep your complexion healthy.
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