Melissa’s Beauty Secrets: How to Stay Safe in the Sun
It’s been so gorgeous and sunny these last few days that it has been impossible not to get out and bask in it, however the result has been lots of sunburnt bodies all over London.
So I thought maybe this week we should focus on how to protect your skin in the sun. Although you may not get a tan by wearing an SPF you will save your skin from freckles/moles/ premature aging/eye damage and most importantly skin cancer.
The cancer council reports that ‘Each day more than two people under 35 in Britain are diagnosed with malignant melanoma” – the deadliest form of skin cancer. This is triple the amount that were diagnosed with the same condition in the late 1970’s.
Being Australian, I am well aware of the damaging effects of the sun and was taught from a young age the importance of sun safety. When you are looking for a sun-cream, go for something that protects from both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 15 – 50.
So what are UVA and UVB rays?
UVA rays are the rays that penetrate the skin’s deepest layers and are the main factor needed to get a tan by starting the production of melatonin in the skin. UVA rays are also thought to be the key cause of skin cancers. UVB rays are the main cause of skin reddening, and play a big part in the development of skin cancer while also contributing to tanning and superficial signs of aging.
How can you avoid damaging your skin? Make sure to apply your sun cream BEFORE you go out into the sun as some lotions can take up to 20mins to activate, and with this in mind remember that sun creams won’t work unless they are applied correctly and this means a minimum of 2 tablespoons to cover you from head to toe – don’t forget your ears and your feet – wearing shoes on burnt feet…OUCHY! Don’t forget to reapply regardless of what you are doing, sun creams can rub off or wash off even if they claim to be waterproof. You can increase your protection by wearing a hat/sunglasses and clothing and make sure you drink lots of water – heatstroke is a lot more common than you might think.
If you do get burnt make sure you get out of the sun or cover yourself if you are in the sun and apply some Aloe Vera gel or Aftersun cream – Solait and Banana Boat make a good one.
I know it may not seem like the coolest thing to do – protecting yourself against the sun, but walking around looking like a lobster is much more embarrassing and keeping yourself safe from skin cancer is a no-brainer!
Great advice Melissa.My father died from Melanoma in Australia due to exposure to the sun.Being a farmer working out in the sun on a tractor in early 1960-1970s no covers in those days.Warm Regards Rosemary.
The idea that sunscreen prevents cancer is a myth. It’s a myth promoted by a profit-seeking tag-team effort between the cancer industry and the sunscreen industry. The sunscreen industry makes money by selling lotion products that actually contain cancer-causing chemicals. It then donates a portion of that money to the cancer industry through non-profit groups like the American Cancer Society which, in turn, run heart-breaking public service ads urging people to use sunscreen to “prevent cancer”.
The scientific evidence, however, shows quite clearly that sunscreen actually promotes cancer by blocking the body’s absorption of ultraviolet radiation, which produces vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D, as recent studies have shown, prevents up to 77 of ALL cancers in women (breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, multiple myeloma… you name it). Meanwhile, the toxic chemical ingredients used in most sunscreen products are actually carcinogenic and have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA. They get absorbed right through the skin (a porous organ that absorbs most substances it comes into contact with) and enter the bloodstream.