Skincare

Protect yourself in the sun with Lemonoil suncare products - The best way of enjoying the sun

Is the sun - friend or foe? There is so much conflicting information about the sun, that sometimes it’s difficult to know what advice to follow - the answer is in moderation. Too much sun, too quickly and the skin burns and it may be regretted in later years. But if people behave sensibly and tan slowly, it is possible to be out and about on a sunny day without damaging your skin.

Unfortunately many people still don’t take the sun seriously, particularly the British sun. In a recent survey 33% of women aged 16-34 wore no sun protection in the UK, compared to 6% abroad.

Sunburn is painful, but as the skin has an ability to repair itself, this allows people to forget its importance, so our body may only show damage from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays as age spots, lines or the lost of elasticity in the skin. Repeated sunburn has been proven to increase the risk of skin cancer in later life, so sunscreen is essential protection.

What is SPF?

Sunscreens are rated by the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) system. The SPF rating is primarily the amount of UVB protection the sunscreen offers. The rating ( SPF8 , SPF15 , SPF25 etc ) indicates how much longer a person can be in the sun before burning than when not wearing sunscreen. For example if you can stay in the sun for 10 minutes before starting to burn if you are not wearing sunscreen, when wearing sunscreen you should be able to stay in the sun your initial 10 minutes multiplied by the SPF rating. Sunscreens protect the skin by either absorbing or blocking and scattering UV  radiation.

Remember: Fair skin burns much more quickly in the sun. You should always consult your doctor for advice on which SPF to use, especially if you are taking any medication that could result in photosentivity.

Babies and Children

It is vital to protect babies and young children from the sun’s harmful rays, as babies and young children have thin, delicate skin that burns more easily. Therefore it is recommended that babies under six months must be kept in the shade at all times. Infants and young children need a high protection sunscreen with at least SPF25 protection, it is also recommended to use a waterproof formulation as children spend many hours playing at the water’s edge.

After Sun

No matter how careful people are, the combined effects of sun, sand and sea all take their toll on the skin and have a drying effect. Applying a cooling aftersun moisturises, soothes and calms the skin and helps prolong the tan and avoids unsightly peeling.

Sun Safe Tips

• Avoid sunbathing between 11am and 3pm
• Wear a high SPF on vulnerable areas such as nose, lips , ears and forehead.
• Tan slowly, building up time spent in the sun. A tan that is acquired slowly lasts longer.
• It is possible to burn when feeling cool. The sun’s rays can penetrate light cloud and water to several metres deep. Waterproof sunscreens are recommended for swimmers.
• Follow instructions and reapply protection frequently.

Keep yourself safe and enjoy the sun with Lemonoil suncare products.