As wonderful as Britain can be, it’s not famous for its long, blisteringly hot summers. However, everyone is exposed to the sun in some way, even when the weather is anything but glorious sunshine.
Up to 40% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation still reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day, leaving us exposed to the sun even if we don’t realise it. It is common for people to get sunburnt after being outdoors for a few hours on an overcast day in high summer. For this reason, we should be putting on sun protection on a daily basis to help protect our skin. After all, the sun’s rays may be invisible to the naked eye, but the effects on the skin are clear.
While exposure to sunlight is vital for the production of vitamin D for healthy bones and teeth, it also emits a variety of harmful rays. Until recently, the awareness has been around UVB and UVA, particularly UVB which causes sunburn. However, there are other rays that can have a negative effect on our skin, accelerating its ageing.
Around 98% of the population purchase sunscreen protection before going on holiday. Sun protection factor (SPF) resources can also be found in moisturisers and other skin care products, making them easier to incorporate into everyday routines. SPF is the level of protection given against UVB rays.
Meanwhile, UVA protection can be recognised through star ratings or a symbol on the bottle. Many brands have come up with ways to extend the life of these filters on the skin. However, regardless of how long the protection claims to last, no sunscreen should be expected to keep skin protected for longer than two hours without reapplication, due to activities that reduce its effectiveness such as sweating, swimming and towelling.
BE SAFE THIS SUMMER!
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