Reversing skin damage from the sun isn’t easy and we would always say that prevention is the best way to avoid issues later in life. It’s important that you know how to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Today we wanted to expel five common myths about skin care in summer to steer you in the right direction:
- You can’t get sunburnt when it’s cool and cloudy
FALSE: UV, which causes sunburn is present every day, even in winter, there is no correlation between the temperature and the UV level. Cloud cover is commonly thought to act as a shade but UV rays can penetrate clouds and catch you out. You can check UV levels at reputable weather websites such as: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/
- Sun cream is the best way to protect skin from the sun
FALSE: Sun cream is just one of several measures needed in combination to protect yourself against sun damage. This includes staying out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day, covering skin that isn’t used to being exposed as this is more susceptible to damage, and wearing UVA and UVB combined sun cream with a minimum of factor 30SPF.
- After sun products repair the damage caused by sunburn
FALSE: They are designed to soothe and moisturise, but the real damage is done on a cellular level. If you notice your skin becoming pink in the sun seek shade immediately. Do not return sunburnt skin into the sun until it is fully healed otherwise the issue will be exacerbated.
- You can’t get sun burnt indoors through windows
FALSE: Glass does not block UV rays so you can get burnt through windows. This most commonly occurs in cars, where people are exposed to UV whilst driving.
- Men and women are equally informed when it comes to sun safety
FALSE: A recent survey from the American Academy of Dermatology put women on top when it comes to understanding sun safety. “The results indicated only 56% of men know that skin cancer can occur on areas of the skin not typically exposed to the sun, compared to 65% of women.”* Click here for full article.
If you’d like to talk to one of the team about our skin care products or sun damage treatment options please give us a call on 01225 700072.