Be sun savvy
1 May 2008
Summer’s nearly here, so wise-up to sun safety for a healthy glow
Take care in the sun for a healthy summer’s glow
It’s a fact: Most people feel better with a tan. It makes you feel healthier, slimmer and more gorgeous. But stop and think before you head out into the sunshine – do you really want to risk skin cancer or looking like a wrinkly, old prune?
The sun’s rays contain two types of ultraviolet light UVA (wavelength 320 – 400 nm) and UVB (wavelength 290 – 320 nm). Both are damaging to the skin and the fairer our skin, the more susceptible we are to the harmful effects of sun exposure. UVB rays are 90 per cent absorbed in the top layer of the skin with only 10 per cent reaching the underlying dermis. UVB rays are responsible for sunburn while all the UVA rays reach the dermis where they damage the connective tissues causing wrinkles and premature ageing.
You can achieve a healthy summer glow and still protect your skin with a few simple steps:
1. Slap it on
Choose your sunscreen carefully. SPF (sun protection factor) tends to refer to protection from UVB while a star rating () tells you how much protection you will get from UVA rays. Ideally you should opt for a high SPF with a 3 or 4* rating. Your sunscreen should be at least SPF 15 —higher for youngsters and those with fairer skins.
2. You can stand under my umbrella
Seek the shade. Keep out of the sun when it is at its strongest (roughly between 11am – 3pm). The UV index indicates the strength of the sun and is shown in a triangle on the weather forecast. Between March and October in the UK the index is rarely over 3 and even the fairest skins should be safe. However, in the height of summer it can reach 7 so you will need to use sunscreen. If in doubt, look at your shadow – if it’s shorter than you, the chances are the sun is strong enough for you to need to protect your skin. Children and fair-skinned folk are most at risk.
3. Hey, nice shades
Invest in good quality sunglasses. Remember that like many things in life — you get what you pay for. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t lost a pair of sunglasses at some time, so it can be tempting to replace them with cheap ones, but it really is worth investing in good quality glasses with guaranteed UV protection. Just because they have dark lenses, doesn’t mean they will work. In fact, if they don’t have proper UV protection, they could do more harm by allowing the pupil to dilate in bright sunshine and exposing the retina to more harmful rays.
Do you really want to risk skin cancer or looking like a wrinkly, old prune?
4. The best anti-age advice
Don’t use sunbeds. Sunbeds use predominantly UVA rays so don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. You may not get burned but you could be setting yourself up to look old before your time.
Dr Dawn’s health check by Dr Dawn Harper (Mitchell Beazley, £14.99) is available from Amazon
