A health expert has unveiled the 'right way' to use sun cream - and it may just surprise you.
Countless Brits will be slapping on the sun cream this weekend, before heading out to beaches and BBQs to enjoy the well-overdue heatwave. But one medical expert warns that you may burn to a crisp, if you're among those applying SPF all wrong.
Niamh McMillan, a Superdrug Pharmacy Superintendent, suggests that people need to think carefully about when exactly they apply sun protectant, as doing this too early or too late can increase the risk of skin damage. "It's best to apply sunscreen 15 - 30 minutes before going outside," she explained.
"It should then be reapplied to exposed areas, 15 – 30 minutes after sun exposure. People should always try to reapply sunscreen after vigorous activity such as swimming or excessive sweating, that could remove the sunscreen."
SPF - or Sun Protection Factor - is the amount of protection a cream can provide against ultraviolet B (UVB) - a type of radiation that's commonly linked to skin burns. Bottles of SPF usually rank this on a scale from two to 50+, with the latter offering the most protection overall.
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Meanwhile, any displayed star rating will unveil a product's level of protection from ultraviolet A radiation (UVA). While this variation is most associated with skin aging, enlarged pores and fine lines, both UVA and UVB can trigger an increased risk of cancer.
Applying SPF at the right time is therefore crucial to eliminating this chance, with sun cream taking around 30 minutes to absorb into the skin. If application is left too late, the cream is more likely to wash off when you sweat, rendering it ineffective.
It's vital to triple check an SPF's use-by date too. Although most bottles have a shelf-life of 30 months, they are often only useable for a certain time period after being opened.
Niamh continued: "We all have different skin types, so it is important to choose the right type of sunscreen for your skin.
"The Sun Protection Factor (SPF), is commonly interpreted as how much longer skin covered with sunscreen takes to burn, compared to unprotected skin. So, if you burn after 10 minutes in the sun, then using a sunscreen labelled with, say, SPF15, is taken to mean that you can safely remain in the sun for 10 x 15 = 150 minutes, or two-and-a-half hours, before burning."
When it comes to babies, Niamh also recommends keeping them out of direct sunlight until they are at least six months old. This is especially important between 11am and 3pm when UV rays are most intense.
"Parents should be particularly careful with children’s skin from March through to October in the UK," she added. "...ensuring their suitably covered up, spending time in the shade, and apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to areas not protected such as the face, ears and feet."
You can buy Factor 50 sun cream for as little as £3.59 at Superdrug.
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