As the British summer heats up, a GP has revealed five common sunscreen mistakes people make that could put you at serious risk from the sun's strong UV rays. Some areas of the UK will reach temperatures in excess of 30C today, with a Level 2 Heat-Health Alert issued for the much of southern and central England, and a Level 1 Alert in place for northern England.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Rudman, said: “Temperatures will continue to rise as we go through the week, becoming well above-average by Friday when many parts of the southern half of the UK are likely to exceed 30C and may even reach 34C in some places.
“This is the first spell of hot weather this year and it is unusual for temperatures to exceed these values in June. Many areas will also see some warm nights with minimum temperatures expected to be in the high teens or even low 20Cs for some overnight.”
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“The heat is a result of a mix of home-grown warming in the day due to high pressure, as well as a southerly airflow introducing some of the warm air from the continent to UK shores.”
Dr Stephanie Ooi, a GP at MyHealthcare Clinic, says many people are unaware of the proper precautions that should be taken to guard against sun damage and skin cancer as the temperature surges. She has shared her five top tips for staying safe below.
Not applying enough
Dr Ooi said: “Most of us don’t put on enough sunscreen. To properly protect your face you should apply two finger lengths of sun cream and for your body it’s a whole shot glass. If you use a spray bottle or roll-on you should be applying several passes or spritzes in each area to provide adequate protection.
“When it comes to children, those under six months should be kept out of the sun entirely. With older children there aren’t any specific rules but you should apply sunscreen liberally. More is more! Clothes will provide some protection but don’t forget to go under clothing edges to ensure you have good coverage across the entire body.”
Not using a high enough SPF
Dr Ooi, a mother-of-two who offers handy hints on her Instagram page @the_gp_mum, says she always recommends using SPF 50. She said: “Choose the highest SPF possible to give yourself the best protection. Some people choose lower SPFs because they think this will boost their body’s levels of vitamin D, but studies have shown vitamin D levels aren’t affected by a higher SPF sunscreen.”
The body creates vitamin D, which helps keep bones and muscles healthy, from sunlight on the skin when outdoors. If you are worried you can always take a daily vitamin D supplement. The NHS recommends taking 10mcg (or 400 units) daily during the winter months.”
Applying too late prior to sun exposure
When you’re in a rush to get outside and enjoy the weather it can be tempting to apply sunscreen when you’re already basking in the sunshine. But Dr Ooi says people need to be wary of applying protection well before they are exposed to UV rays.
She said: “Sunscreen needs to be applied at least 30 minutes before going outside. On top of this, most will need to be reapplied every two hours. If you are swimming or sweating you will need to reapply protection even more frequently.”
Using expired sunscreen
Many of us are guilty of dipping into last year’s stock of sunscreen. But did you know it can expire? Dr Ooi said: “You can check by looking at the back of the bottle - there will be a jar symbol with a number. This corresponds to the number of months it can be open before being discarded.”
Thinking sunscreen makes you invincible
Sunscreen is a filter, not a block, so your skin can still be damaged. “The best protection is to stay out of the sun completely,” Dr Ooi explained, “especially during the hours when the sun is at its strongest, which is between 11am and 3pm.
“It’s not always possible to stay out of the sun so be sure to seek shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat and cover up with loose, breathable clothing. Remember, there is no such thing as a healthy tan.”
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