Summer Skin Care

With balmy summer days ahead and the temperatures set to rise we are all looking forward to spending time outside. But we must bear in mind before we bare our pale winter skin how we can best protect ourselves and our children from sun damage.
Alarmingly there are 70,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed every week here in the UK and as our climate becomes more Mediterranean this number is set to increase rapidly if we don’t take sensible precautions. Importantly, most cases of skin cancer are related to the sun damage suffered when we are very young – as babies and children have much thinner skin than adults as well as less protective pigment. It is widely believed that even one occasion of blistering skin in childhood can double the chance of developing a serious skin cancer in later life. Yet it is utterly avoidable if we take commonsense precautions.
It is not uncommon to see entire holidaying families decamp to our beaches early on the fi rst morning of their summer break only to leave badly sunburned in the late afternoon. If they have used any protection then it wasn’t enough and, frankly, with all of the information available today they should know better. Fake tanning products are also a danger as many users believe that the colour they acquire from the pigment in these products acts as a protectant. It doesn’t. Fake tan users are every bit as likely to burn. And who wants to be burned anyway? It is uncomfortable, downright dangerous, and prolonged exposure to the sun ages the skin. No amount of after sun or moisturising products can reverse the damage or reduce the very real risk of contracting skin cancer.
A new sun awareness campaign – Rub It In - found that 76 per cent of people underestimate how much lotion they should apply; 73 per cent believe that the lower the factor they use, the better their tan; and 71 per cent don’t use sun lotion at all in the UK no matter how hot it is.
This same campaign, being staged by sun care brand Delph, is battling to get the Government to stop treating sun scare products as cosmetics and to see VAT on them withdrawn or reduced. Whilst classified as cosmetics, sun preparations are not required to be medically tested and may not be as effective as some of their advertising campaigns would have us believe.
Prevention is better than cure and experts recommend that we should all select good quality sun care products with at least SPF15 and preferably much higher, especially for children. Even creams and lotions with claim to be waterproof should be re-applied frequently especially after coming out of the sea or pool, or when the heat causes us to perspire heavily. There are now many sun care products formulated from natural products which avoid the use of the chemical nasties that many people have adverse skin reactions to. Many formulas contain aloe vera which is a highly effective moisturiser and there are small numbers of products which have been developed specifically for those who suffer from psoriasis and eczema. Natural aloe vera gel also makes a very good after sun treatment for re-moisturising parched skin.
Every child under ten should be encouraged to wear a protective hat whilst in the sun and ideally one that covers the sensitive skin at the back of the neck, as should anyone with thinning hair or skin that is prone to burn easily. There are some really trendy choices available and most kids will be perfectly happy to wear them – and as we become more aware of the value of hats in the summer they will be easier than ever to fi nd especially in coastal areas. Many schools now insist that young pupils wear hats when going out to play at lunch time or for outdoor sports activities. It is becoming the norm.
Simple actions like staying in the shade between 11.00am-3.00pm and popping a t-shirt on over swimwear will also reduce the risk of sun burn. And whilst we are discussing summer health, ensure too that everyone in your family has access to plenty of plain water to drink whilst out and about. Simple tap water is a whole lot better than sugary drinks.
In the UK we have been slow to heed advice but finally there are signs that we are adopting some of the strategies which have seen skin cancer rates fall dramatically in Australia. Whilst we may consider that the UK climate is a far cry from that experienced in Australian coastal areas, the difference is narrowing. It makes a great deal of sense then that we should follow their lead and invest in items like long sleeved sun suits that allow our children to play freely in the sun and the water without the risk of burning. Suits made of fabric with SPF 50+ ratings are now available here from businesses like Kids Kapers which also stocks lovely beach robes for children which are great for drying off in and keeping kids cosy on colder or windier days. There are also some really attractive and fashionable SPF 50+ suits for 5-14 year olds and great SPF 50+ t-shirts and shorts to boys from 1-14 years. www.kids-kaper.co.uk