Pink as a Lobster!
You can’t fail to notice that the weather at the moment is pretty darn fabulous, with long, warm sunny days and plenty of opportunities to catch some rays at the beach or in the park. However, just because it’s April don’t think that the sun isn’t as strong as it will be in the summer. With temperatures well above average many off you will be heading out for some fun in the sun. It goes without saying that during this warm weather, protecting your skin from the sun is as important as making sure you have your shades and inflatable crocodile. It may be cool to be tanned but do you know what damage you’re really doing to your skin?
According to Cancer Research UK, Britain’s leading cancer charity, two 15-34 year olds in Britain are diagnosed with the deadliest form of skin cancer, Malignant Melanoma every day. Sunburn is a clear sign that that ultra violet (UV) radiation from the sun has damaged your skin. Damaged DNA can cause cells to start growing out of control. This can lead to skin cancer. Cancer Research says that even getting painful sunburn just once every two years, can triple the risk of developing Malignant Melanoma. Painful sunburn is caused by your body trying to repair itself. You may think that the sun in the UK isn’t as ‘hot’ as it would be if you were on holiday abroad, but surprisingly most cases of sunburn happen in the UK rather than in a foreign country. Even if you’re not actively sunbathing, you can still get painful sunburn from just being out and about, at work, or even in the car.
So how can you protect yourself? Well, sunblock and suncream are essential to protect the skin, with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15+ the best. Apply sunscreen generously and regularly. If you’re going swimming make sure you apply a waterproof sunscreen as you can still get burnt whilst swimming in a pool or the sea. Be careful about protecting yourself from the sun during the hottest parts of the day, which is between 11am- 3pm. If you get too warm, finding shade amongst trees, under umbrellas, tents and wearing sun hats all help to keep you cool and protect you from burning.
It may seem boring and uncool to slap on the suncream, but think about the potential long term health risks of burning your skin from too much sun damage. Is it really worth all that pain for a few days of looking like a lobster? You can still have fun in the sun; just remember to make sure your skin can handle the fun too, and protect yourself from any long-term skin damage.
If you want more info on staying safe in the sun, Cancer UK’s SunSmart campaign has all the advice you need.
