SUN PROTECTION AND SUNSCREENS


Protecting your skin from the sun is simple and doesn't need to be expensive.

Remember to:

• head for the shade around midday
  
• avoid burning
  
• cover up with tightly woven clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Sunscreens also offer some protection but should only be used in combination with other methods. A sunscreen is any product applied to the skin to protect it from the sun. Almost any substance -make-up, lip balm, even dirt - will act as a sunscreen, although such means should not be relied on for protection!
Sunscreens may contain physical barriers, chemical absorbers or both. Physical barriers in sunscreens reflect the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation away from the body. Chemical absorbers soak up UV radiation reducing the amount of UV that reaches the skin. A sunscreen's SPF is a measure of how much radiation it allows through.

What does SPF mean?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is a measure of how much a sunscreen protects your skin from burning in the sun. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection.
All sunscreens sold in this country carry an SPF rating on the front of the bottle. This rating may range from 2 to 30 or even higher.
A sunscreen's SPF is measured by timing how long skin covered with sunscreen takes to burn when compared with unprotected skin. So, if your unprotected skin would burn in 10 minutes in the midday sun, by using a sunscreen of SPF2, this would double the time spent before burning to 20 minutes. However, sunscreens should not be used to allow you to remain in the sun for longer - instead use them to give yourself greater protection.

How much sunscreen?
Most people apply sunscreens too thinly and generally end up with less protection than the SPF on the bottle suggests.

When using a sunscreen, remember:

• apply it thickly and evenly over all exposed areas;
  
• those parts of the body which are not usually exposed to the sun will tend to burn more easily;
  
• pay particular attention to ears, neck, bald patches, hands and feet;
  
• re-apply regularly, especially after swimming.
  
• Don't forget to protect your eyes
  

A good pair of sunglasses will help to protect your eyes from the sun. Check the label for 100% UV Block. The most expensive sunglasses may not be the most protective!

SPFs and ultraviolet radiation
Two bands of ultraviolet or UV radiation reach the earth's surface - UVA and UVB. It is important for sunscreens to block out both UVA and UVB. The SPF number tells you how well a sunscreen blocks out UVB. It is much harder to measure its ability to protect against UVA. Different companies may use different ways of measuring this. The most common is a star system, which gives the ratio of UVA to UVB protection.

Which SPF?
Always choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or above. It should also have 3 stars (***) or more. But do not rely on a sunscreen alone - you should still limit the length of time you spend in the sun.
Using after-sun creams
After-sun creams and lotions may help to soothe sunburnt or dry skin caused by the sun. But they can't help repair more serious skin damage.

Contact the Health Promotion Officer on Tel: 51335 for more information.