Why Sun Protection Needs To Be At The Top Of Your Summer ‘Must Do’ List!

It’s coming up to that time of year, where the sun starts to make an appearance. Well we hope so anyway! Summer can be a fleeting thought in Ireland, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore sun protection.

Sun protection can be confusing at time though, between different factors, star ratings, etc, how can you be sure you’re applying the right sun protection for you?

The DailyEdge.ie spoke to Consultant Dermatologist, Dr. Niki Ralph about all things sun, safety and protection.

First things first: UVA vs UVB Rays

There are approximately 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight when compared to UVB rays. UVA is the dominant tannin ray. A tan results from injury to the skin’s DNA; the skin darkens in an attempt to prevent damage.

“UVA rays are present all year around,” Dr. Ralph said. “UVA causes ageing and changes the collagen in your skin.”

“Then, UVB is chief cause of skin reddening and sunburn, and is primarily responsible for the development of skin cancer.”

How Does Sun Cream Work?

“Some of the cheaper ones only protect against UVA. A good suncream protects against both – you should see a 5 star mark on the front of the bottle.”

What Does The Sun Factor Rating Mean?

The majority of Irish people have type 1 or 2 skin. This means that basically you either burn or burn and then tan.

‘If i takes 10 minutes for you to burn, factor 30 means you can stay out in the sun for 30 minutes longer, factor 50 means you can stay our 50 minutes longer.’

Dr. Ralph explains that in hotter countries, like Australia of the US, people are sold SPF 60 and beyond, however, after SPF 50 the difference in protection is minimal.

How Much Sun Cream Should We Use?

About a shot glass per application.

‘I see people coming back from holidays with a bottle of sun cream that’s still practically full. That shouldn’t be the case’

Does It Matter If I Apply Cream Or Spray?

It doesn’t really matter, but, Dr. Ralph prefers cream products as you can see how much you’re applying.

What is Dr. Ralph’s favourite brand?

For her own patients, Dr. Ralph loves La Roche Posay’s Anthelios range.

The Skincare Travel Tip For Your Next Flight

Every skincare lover knows the importance of using SPF on a daily basis to protect skin from the potentially harmful rays of the sun.

Sunlight can prematurely age the skin and by ignoring your daily SPF you’re leaving your skin open to a range of damage.

This might sound a little over the top, but this is advice that skincare experts agree on.

One scenario that you might think about going without SPF is on an airplane, mainly because you’re not under direct sunlight.

However, flying without SPF can negatively impact your skin as you’re much closer to the sun and its harmful rays.

This is most important for people who regularly fly, a point noted by dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer in an interview with Marie Claire.

“If you fly 20,000+ miles in a year, it is an absolute must to wear sunscreen when you fly because of the UV radiation caused by elevation.

“If you don’t, your skin will age prematurely and fine lines and wrinkles will be much more visible earlier on.”

Dr. Lancer says that it’s advisable to wear at least SPF15 and if possible, SPF 30 with UVA/UVB protection and to regularly reapply to your face, neck and chest.