STAYING SAFE IN THE SUN
With UK average temperatures rising year on year and the increase in people jetting off to sunnier climates, staying safe in the sun has never been so important.
Yet while pottering around in the garden, how many of us actually think about the damage we are doing to our skin? The reality is that 200 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every day in the UK and rates of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, have risen by more than 40% in the last decade, making it the fastest growing type of cancer in Britain.
According to the UK Skin Cancer Working Party, individuals who develop skin cancer do not always have a history of deliberate sunbathing. Those who have an outdoor occupation and those who have an outdoor recreation such as golfing, gardening, skiing or sailing are also at risk and must learn to protect their skin.
The message is clear, failure to protect your skin in the sun, even for short bursts means that you’re putting yourself at risk. However, the good news is that skin cancer can be almost totally prevented just by adopting some simple suncare habits meaning it’s never too late to start protecting yourself properly.
Here are a few top tips for staying safe in the sun:
- Stay in the shade between 11 am and 3pm – this is when the sun is at its strongest.
- Apply sun cream 15-30 minutes before exposure to the sun and regularly reapply. The more you apply the better protected you are.
- Don’t forget to cover up exposed areas such as hands, ears, feet and behind the neck.
- Use a high factor protection lipscreen to protect your lips from the sun. Uvistat SPF 50 is one of the most effective lipscreens on the market with both high UVA and UVB protection. As well as preventing dry and chapped lips, the lipscreen also protects against cold sores which can be triggered by sunlight,
- Cover up as much as possible with loose fitting clothes and sunglasses.
- Always remember that the sun does not need to be hot to damage our skin. The heat from the sun comes from infra-red rays, not UV rays, so you can still burn on cool days
- Report any mole changes or unusual skin growths promptly to your doctor
Campbell Douglas, Marketing Manager of Uvistat, says: “The importance of applying sun protection throughout the year can not be stressed highly enough. This is one form of cancer that can be prevented and to ignore the steps you can take to ensure you, your friends and family are protected would be irresponsible."
“Uvistat prides itself on its five star UVA protection. The product is one of the only high SPF & five star UVA protection products with prescription status in the UK, meaning the user can get the highest level of UVA & UVB protection. UVA rays are those which cause premature skin ageing and skin cancer and UVB rays are responsible for burning.”
You can find Uvistat at BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC between 11 – 15 June. The company will be running mole check clinics in association with the skin cancer charity, Skcin, within Countryfile and will have samples available on picnic hill.
|
