Created by The British Association of Dermatologists, Sun Awareness Week runs between the 3rd and the 9th of May 2023. This week aims to raise awareness of the damage the sun can cause to your skin and to encourage safety when out in the sun, especially in the UK climate where it is a common misconception that sun protection is not as important as it is in hotter countries. Sitting in the sun or using sunbeds in order to tan your skin has always been popular but people are now becoming more aware of the damage it can cause, including the increased risks of developing skin cancer. Follow this advice to help your skin stay safe and healthy in the sun.

 

 

The Benefits of UV Protection

 

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and many people still do not wear adequate UV protection when they are out and about in the sunshine. Sun Awareness Week aims to encourage people to wear UV sun lotions and to check themselves for the signs of skin cancer, such as irregularly shaped moles or moles that have changed shape or size.

 

At Dermacare Direct, we are passionate about informing our customers as to the benefits of UV protection and how it can help to defend and preserve your skin from premature ageing and the risk of skin cancer. We recommend that a full spectrum, high SPF sun cream should be an essential part of your daily skincare regime, even on days when the weather is dull or overcast. Many people think that when it is cloudy, suncream is not needed but UV rays can still penetrate your skin when the sun is not shining.

 

If you don't wear adequate UV protection on your skin, you can also run the risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, discolouration and redness. We recommend choosing a daily SPF moisturiser alongside serums with UV protection or mineral-based makeup to help protect your skin.

 

What else can you do to protect your skin?

 

The British Association of Dermatologists also recommend covering your skin by wearing a hat in the sun, wearing UV-resistant sunglasses or staying in the shade if possible. Wearing a hat will protect your scalp and your ears, two other parts of the body which can easily become burnt and that are more difficult to protect by using traditional sun protection lotions.

 

In the last year, it is reported that 35% of people in the UK were burnt because of sun exposure at least once, with 28% of those people getting burnt more than three times [1], so sun protection is vitally important. Other sensitive areas of the body that need extra protection from the sun are your lips, eyelids and the tops of your feet. Dermacaredirect offers a range of SPF-fortified lip balms,  powdered sunscreens to use on your scalp and eye creams with infrared protection.

 

Resources:

[1] https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/home-and-away-brits-getting-sunburnt-in-the-uk-and-abroad/