Skincare Experts Urge Safety In The Sun

The week commencing Monday 3 May was Sun Awareness Week, organised by the British Association of Dermatologists, and skincare experts are urging people to be more vigilant and to keep safe while enjoying the brighter, sunnier weather.

The Metro reports that while May is not known for its brilliantly sunny days, grey and raw weather doesn’t mean the risk is less, and the British Association of Dermatologists has issued advice on what we can do to protect ourselves and highlight the risks involved with too much exposure to the sun’s rays and ultraviolet light.

The association’s campaign aims to let the public know about the dangers of burning, sunbed use and excessive tanning to try to prevent skin cancers from developing.

It is also encouraging self-examinations to detect changes to your skin early on and where to get more information.

Nurse Hannah Brew of Swansea Bay UHB’s Dermatology Department said: “Most of us do enjoy getting out in the sun when we get chance and a break from the rain, and sunshine isn’t always bad.”

She explained that getting out in the sun helps with the production of vitamin D, and can help prevent osteoporosis in later life, but added that unsafe sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, the most common cancer in the UK.

“More than 80 per cent of all skin cancers are caused by over-exposure to the sun and/or sunbeds,” she said.

Here are some tips to ensure you‘re protected whilst out in the sun.

• Spend time in the shade during the sunniest part of the day when the sun is at its strongest, which is usually between 11 am and 3 pm in the summer months.
• Avoid direct sun exposure for babies and very young children.
• When it is not possible to stay out of the sun, keeping yourself well covered, with a hat, T-shirt, and sunglasses can give you additional protection. You can buy specialist children’s sun protection clothing as well.
• Apply sunscreen liberally to exposed areas of skin. Re-apply every two hours and straight after swimming or towelling to maintain protection.

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