Sun and your skin: The risks and how to protect yourself

With spring just around the corner we thought it was a good time to cover sun and skincare on the blog. While we all like to make the most of the glorious sunshine – especially when it seems we have so little of it – it’s important to be mindful of keeping your skin protected in the sun.

How sun can damage skin

Even if the sun’s rays seem harmless and temperatures aren’t tropical there are still many risks when venturing out without having protected your skin.

It’s actually the two types of ultraviolet light that can penetrate the skin and cause skin damage.These are known as UVA and UVB.

While both types of light are known for harming the skin, UVB is the main cause of sunburn, while UVA activates all those premature aging effects – such as wrinkling, leathering and sagging.

UVA light penetrates the skin deeper, which is why it has the ability to have a dramatic impact of the look and feel of your skin.

How to protect yourself from harmful rays

There are plenty of simple and easy ways to protect your skin from the sun’s rays. It’s all about using a bit of common sense.

Avoid the sun when its rays are most intense – during the hours of 12pm-2pm. If you have to be in the sun, perhaps for work, make sure you cover up and don’t forget the hat!

Apply plenty of sun cream if you’re going to be out and about enjoying the sun. Make sure you choose an SPF of 15 or higher and do remember to apply it thickly. Waterproof sun cream should also be considered if you’re planning on taking a dip.

Remember to reapply the cream every one to two hours to maximise protection; it should also be reapplied after swimming, towelling off or getting sweaty.

Don’t forget those sensitive areas! Eyelids, ears, your nose and your hairline are easily forgotten when it comes to applying cream. It is worth investing in some good quality sunglasses and a rimmed straw hat or cap too to protect these areas.

Don’t let the weather fool you. Just because you can’t see the sun behind the clouds, doesn’t mean you’re not at risk.

Similarly, snow holidays also need to be teamed with a good SPF. High altitudes have very little atmosphere to filter out the sun’s harmful rays.

Keep your skin safe with AP Skincare products

Our skincare products have been designed with the sun’s harmful rays in mind and protect your skin from daily lifestyle and environmental traumas. We also have specialist products that treat problem skin – such as sun-damaged skin.

retriderm

The essential everyday Heliocare range has been designed with environmental traumas in mind.

The creams act as a powerful antioxidant to minimise damage from the sun and also provide SPF 50 to protect your delicate skin against everyday UV attack.

Retriderm, our skincare range for the over 35’s is particularly good at remedying skin damaged by the sun. It works on lines, sun spots, roughness and much more.

To find out more about the skincare products mentioned today, give us a call on 01254 297 000 to book your consultation.