Top 10 things to know about skin care in the sun

skin care in the sun

With skin cancer on the rise, we got Abi Cleeve, managing director of skin care brand Ultrasun UK, to give her tips on skin care in the sun

Skin cancer is on the rise
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, and rates continue to rise. Around 13,300 cases of malignant melanoma were diagnosed in the UK in 2011, that’s 37 people every day. Over the last 30 years, rates of malignant melanoma in the UK have risen faster than any of the current top ten cancers. Sun exposure is the main cause. Cheap flights and last-minute deals have made sun breaks the norm and increased UV ray exposure and its frequency.

UVB and UVA are different
You need protection from both. UVB (burning) & UVA (ageing & cell damage) filters are vital. Protection from both is key in preventing skin cancer in the long term. Our products give broad-spectrum protection from harmful UV rays, and crucially filter UVA at a level of 91-99% against an EU requirement of 33%.

Damage starts early
We know it’s important to protect the kids in the sun, but doing that properly is the key to preventing the damage that causes issues in the future. According to Cancer Research, a history of sunburn doubles the risk of malignant melanoma and also increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Children need high protection broad spectrum (UVA & UVB) protection at all times.

Sun cream: it’s all in the formula
To work, a sun cream needs to be applied properly and it needs to stay put. Ultrasun uses a patented liposome technology to give photostabliity – it stays on and stays working, even after repeated water exposure – all day really means all day! Our products are also hypo-allergenic with no emulsifiers, perfume or parabens.

Shelf life is important
How long a sun cream lasts isn’t just about value, it’s about effectiveness. Selecting products that last more than the average not only means you CAN potentially pack it twice, but it means that the ingredients set to protect still do their job for longer after opening.

How (and when) you apply matter
Do it first thing, do it indoors and apply enough. Regardless of the brand chosen, any application in direct sunlight (ie when you’re already on the sun lounger) increases evaporation before it’s had a chance to bond with the skin, reducing its power to protect. The official guidelines given by Colipa (Association of European Cosmetic Industry) are 2mg/cm2 – this approximately corresponds to one teaspoon worth for the face. As a rule of thumb, use a teaspoon of sunscreen for each arm, leg, front, back and face (including neck and ears).

Sea, sand and snow – watch the reflection
Now we’re jetting off to an increasingly larger list of exotic locations understanding destination specific sun risks is important: Reflection of the sun’s rays greatly increases the power of radiation. Tailoring correct product to the holiday type is easy when you know:

For Skiers: Snow – up to 80% increase. Buy a sports-specific product.
For beach lovers: Sand – up to 15% increase. Choose a broad spectrum product.
For sailors and cruise fans: Sea Foam – up to 25% increase. Buy a sports-specific product.

Sweating a product off, in the heat or in the thrill of the piste or other active holidays, is a risk, so choose a product which guarantees not to rub off due to perspiration, swimming or showering.

Shade isn’t that simple
More than 90% of UV can penetrate light cloud cover, and this remains a common mistake and reason for sunburn – both in the UK and abroad. Shade given by trees and parasols only gives protection from around 70% of UV rays. Protection – applied indoors at the beginning of the day – covers all potential sun scenarios. Out of the shade, remember a simple shadow rule: The shorter your own shadow, the higher the sun and the greater the risk. Shade breaks between 11-3pm in Summertime are recommended.

High protection isn’t a licence to bake
Using high sun protection factors can encourage holidaymakers to increase their time in the sun, ironically risking over exposure and thus burning anyway. The level of protection used should focus on skin type and time recommended in the sun with it. You’ll still get a tan with a high protection sun cream – it’ll be slower with less risk and guess what? It’ll last longer!

Some body parts are more vulnerable than others
As we all pursue different activities and holiday types, so varies the parts of the body at most risk. The most common site for men to develop a malignant melanoma is on the chest or back, which aligns with both sunbathing and working or gardening outside at home. For women it’s more likely on the legs, often forgotten in applying protection, perceived as less sensitive than the face (anti-ageing concerns often play a motivational part here) or parts exposed outside of swimwear on holiday. Lips are often forgotten both on the piste and by the pool, and with no natural shade like the lower lip, the upper lip area in particular shows ageing from sun damage quicker.