The record for the hottest May day ever has been broken today (May 25), with heatwaves in place across the country.
Now, a skin expert is urging people not only to apply sun protection but to do so correctly.
Brits issued warning over ’30-minute sunscreen rule’
Donna-Marie Beard, an advanced facialist at AL Aesthetics, said: “Sunscreen plays a key role in protecting our skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays, which can contribute to skin damage and premature ageing.
“With summer firmly in our sights and as we prepare to spend more time outdoors, it’s important to know the essentials when it comes to using sun protection correctly.
“A broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher helps block both UVA and UVB rays is good for everyday use.
“A mistake many people make is failing to apply it between 15 and 30 minutes before sun exposure, which is vital to allow it time to absorb and work effectively.”
Commonly missed areas of application include the ears, hairline, eyelids, and the back of the neck.
She advises dabbing rather than rubbing the cream into the skin to prevent irritation and ensure even coverage.
Ms Beard also reminded the public to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating.
Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause sunburn, irritation, dry skin, fine lines, and long-term skin damage.
Alongside sunscreen, experts recommend avoiding direct sun exposure between 11am and 3pm and staying hydrated to reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
What is SPF and what do sunscreen factors mean?
SPF stands for sun protection factor and will appear on the packaging.
The sun protection factor, or SPF, is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) protection, the NHS explains.
The number indicates how much longer it takes for the sun’s UV rays to redden your skin when using the product, compared to having no sunscreen on at all.
The NHS adds: “SPFs are rated on a scale of 2 to 50+ based on the level of protection they offer, with 50+ offering the strongest form of UVB protection.
“The star rating measures the amount of ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) protection. You should see a star rating of up to 5 stars on UK sunscreens.
“The higher the star rating, the better.
“Sunscreens that offer both UVA and UVB protection are sometimes called broad spectrum.”
The SPF number, such as SPF 30 or 50, on the label of a bottle isn’t just about how long you can spend out in the sun without getting burnt, Olay adds.
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It explains that the higher the SPF you use, the better because:
- SPF 15 fends off 93% of UVB rays
- SPF 30 fends off 97% of UVB rays
- SPF 50 fends off 98% of UVB rays
It recommends going for products with broad-spectrum UV when choosing SPF face cream, as it gives you protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
What sunscreen factor do you normally use? Let us know in the comments.
