wellbeing, over-exposure to the sun can lead to a range of problems including sun cancer, sunburn, photosensitive rashes and prickly heat. Bevis Man of the British Skin Foundation says: “The irony is that people often associate a tan with looking healthy, when in fact it is trying to defend itself against further damage. The dark pigment that gives skin its natural colour is known as melanin, which is made in the skin by pigment cells called melanocytes. When our skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin to try and absorb more UV radiation, so the skin becomes darker.” Sunlight consists of different rays of light. Part of these rays are called ultraviolet, or UV for short. Clare O’Connor, Boots suncare research and development manager, explains: “UVA light penetrates deep into our skin and while it will cause some burning, it can cause long term skin damage such as wrinkling, sagging or uneven pigmentation of the skin and is associated with more harmful effects such as skin cancer. UVB, meanwhile, causes most of the sunburn we experience when skin is over-exposed to the sun.” Recent EU recommendations for sunscreens have changed the way products are now labelled, in a bid to make it easier for consumers to select products that offer adequate UV protection. Bevis Man explains: “As well as the sun protection factor (SPF) number, the SPFs are now also categorised as providing very low to
very high protection: low protection 6 to 14 (i.e. SPF6 and 10), medium protection 15 to 29 (i.e. SPF15, 20 and 25), high protection 30 to 50 (i.e. SPF30 and 50), and very high protection 50+ (i.e. SPF50+). According to EU recommendation, the UVA protection for each sunscreen should be at least a third of the labelled SPF. A product that achieves this requirement will be labelled with a UVA logo; the letters UVA printed in a circle.” Advise consumers to use at least SPF15, and that the SPF number is only a guideline to let them know how much longer they should be able to remain in the sun without burning. For example, if it takes 15 minutes for a person to burn, an SPF15 should allow them to stay out in the sun 15 times longer (225 minutes) without burning.
PROTECT YOURSELF
While most consumers will invest in sun protection products when they go on holiday, selecting the right SPF for their needs is only the fi rst step; many consumers, particularly on holiday, will still suffer from sunburn or damage their skin further simply by failing to apply sun protection products effectively. Bevis Man says: “Most people apply less than half of the actual amount needed to provide the level of protection stated on the
WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN…
After sun exposure, the skin requires some TLC in order to re-hydrate and protect it. Clare O’Connor explains: “The sun is incredibly dehydrating for the skin and it’s very important that as much of the lost moisture as possible is replaced as soon as possible. Well-moisturised skin will have better barrier functions than poorly hydrated skin and this not only infl uences the way it looks, but also its ability to protect itself. After sun is designed to re-moisturise skin as quickly and conveniently as possible after sun exposure. Additionally, there will be times when the skin has accidentally been over-exposed to the sun and is burnt. Cooling after sun gels allow the skin to be soothed, cooled, moisturised and made more comfortable after this onslaught. Remember to also re- hydrate from the inside out by drinking plenty of water after sun exposure“.
packaging. The general idea is to apply the sunscreen as thickly as possible, though most people don’t. Studies also show that there are parts of the body that people consistently miss out when applying sunscreen - the back and sides of the neck, temples and ears are the most frequently missed spots. As a rough guide, the bare minimum consumers should apply is at least six full teaspoons (approximately 36 grams) to cover the average adult body. Applying less will reduce the protection to a higher degree than is proportionate – for example, only applying half the required amount can actually reduce the protection by as much as two thirds.” It is also easy to forget to re-apply sunscreen as
www.purebeauty.co.uk
May 2010 Pure Beauty
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