Protect your Skin against Damaging UV Rays

How do I Choose a Good Sunscreen?

There are so many different products, textures, ingredients and claims that it can be confusing. Narrow the choice down by insisting on the following four:

An SPF of 15 or More

Dermatologists agree that everyone (even those with dark skin) should follow this rule to be protected from UV damage.

UVA Protection

Sunscreens used to protect skin only against UVB rays, but it's now known that UVA rays also cause damage so make sure you choose a product that screens out both. Look for the UVA symbol or UVA star rating (sometimes on the back of the bottle) - five stars is a guarantee of the highest protection possible.

Photostability

This ensures UV filters won't break down in the sun.

Water Resistance

When you swim, water-ski and snorkel, you need a sunscreen that stays put.

How are Sunscreens Rated?

The European Commission has introduced new laws to standardize sunscreen labeling by 2009. They classify sunscreens like this:

Low protection = SPF6 - 14;
Medium protection = SPF15 - 29;
High protection = SPF30 - 49;
Very high protection = SPF50+. You should never choose a sunscreen with an SPF of less than 15. To play it safe, go higher.

Why are Sunscreens so Expensive?

The price of sunscreens reflects the fact that costly research is constantly being done to improve their effectiveness in shielding skin from UV light. Many of us accept the importance of buying the best possible moisturizers for our faces to delay visible ageing. But given that about 80% of this ageing is the result of UV exposure, an even better way to keep skin looking young is to invest in good sunscreens.

A recent survey by the British Association of Dermatologists showed that most women think the best regime for keeping their skin looking young is applying moisturizer daily, eating a healthy diet and drinking eight glasses of water a day. While these are important, they do not have the same anti-ageing impact that sun protection does.

If there's one category of skincare that I would urge people to spend money on, it's good-quality sun protection.

Is there a Facial Sunscreen that won’t give me Spots?

New technologies mean there are now sunscreens for different skin types, as is the case with moisturizers. If you have oily skin, try a non-pore-blocking one.

If  Sunscreens are now so Good, Why isn’t it Safe to be out in the Sun for as Long as you Like?

Even if you apply a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB filters - and apply it well, making sure you don't miss any patches of skin - you are not completely shielded from UV rays. This means you are not completely safeguarded against skin cancer.

Many ingredients in sunscreens do not survive exposure to the sun indefinitely, it is recommended you reapply more every hour and whenever you've swum. There are many reasons to be diligent about this. Need a reminder? Sun is skin's number-one enemy - it causes premature ageing, hyper-pigmentation, capillary damage, skin thickening and, worst of all, cell trauma resulting in permanent damage that can lead to skin cancer.

Should I use a Sun Bed before my holiday to give myself a Base Tan?

Never risk a sun bed. The health risks are very serious. Many people think a 'base tan' will offer protection when they first go out in the sun, but it offers hardly any. At the most, you could think of it as equivalent to an SPF2 or SPF4.

And what little protection it does offer will be outweighed by the damage done on a sun bed. Its intense burst of UV light will damage and age your skin faster than any amount of natural sunlight. Using sun beds before the age of 35 increases your risk of developing skin cancer by 75%. Given there are now all sorts of great fake tans around, there is even less reason to risk a sun bed.

What's the Best Sun Lotion for People with Sensitive Skin?

Choose a sunscreen specially formulated for sensitive skin but, even then, always try a new cream on a small area first. Every case of reactive skin is different.

 There's no History of Skin Cancer in my Family, so Why Should I Worry?

The number of cases of skin cancer, the second most common cancer among 20-to 39-year-olds, is increasing faster than any other cancer. Skin cancer is now so common we should be checking our skin for worrying moles as regularly as we check our breasts for lumps. Melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer) appears most often on the legs, so pay extra attention to them. If you find anything worrying, ask your doctor or dermatologist to check it for you.

What's the Latest Development in Sun Protection?

Studies have shown that wearing even a high SPF doesn't significantly reduce the amount of free-radical damage caused by exposure to the sun. This is why antioxidants are now being added to sunscreens. They 'mop up' the free radicals triggered by the sun and so help to prevent skin damage. Look for sunscreen labels that offer 'added antioxidants', especially vitamins A, C and E, and green and white tea. In March 2009, Clinique is launching a reformulated sun-protection range containing state-of-the-art antioxidants as well as UVA and UVB filters.

Is it Okay to Use the Sunscreen I have Left over from Last Summer?

Generally, a product will work for two-and-a-half years - if it's been correctly stored. If it's been kept out of direct light with the lid shut properly, it should be fine. But if it smells odd, throw it out.

Does anyone Really Need an SPF of More than 30?

In most cases, an SPF of between 15 and 30 is adequate. But use a higher SPF if you don't want to keep reapplying cream or when that's impractical to do, for instance when you're snorkeling.

Another reason for applying a higher SPF is to allow for the fact that you may not be applying it as well as you should. The reason many dermatologists recommend a high SPF is that most people don't apply sunscreen properly. The biggest problem is not using enough - which effectively means you may be reducing the protection by as much as two-thirds. Sunscreen should be applied liberally. As a rough guide, you need to use, at the very least, 30ml - about six teaspoons - of lotion to cover an average-sized adult body.

Your Holiday Tan Plan

Here's how to get to the beach ready to show off your bikini, tan safely while you're there and keep your color glowing after you're back from holiday.

Before you Go

If you are Fair-Skinned, use a self-tan so you look golden when you strip down to your bikini for the first time. This will also make you less likely to overdo sun exposure in the first few days and get burnt.

Stock up on Sun Cream

You'll get through a bottle every three to four days if you apply it correctly, so pack plenty.

On Holiday

Avoid the Midday Sun

You know the drill: don't go in the sun between noon and 3pm, when it's at its fiercest.

Don’t forget your Hot Spots

The nose, ears and lips are prime targets for sunburn. Sunscreen sticks are good to use on these areas.

Keep it up

Top up sunscreen throughout the day

Wear a Hat and Big Sunglasses

Ideally, you should keep your face out of the sun completely and use bronzer to make it match your tan.

You can still enjoy the sun on you body without ageing your face five years every summer.

Wear Black

Skin experts reckon that black - although warmer to wear in the sun - offers skin better protection from the sun than white fabrics do.

Eat Healthy

There is strong evidence that a diet rich in antioxidants can help prevent the free-radical damage caused by sun exposure. This means eating lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. The best are carrots, tomato, apricots and green leafy vegetables, because
they are rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), which gives the most skin protection.

Use After-Sun Products

They will rehydrate skin and help prevent peeling. Many will enhance your tan, too.