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It's only natural that you want to get out there and enjoy the sunshine. When sunlight hits our skin it makes Vitamin D. This is essential for strong bones and teeth. Just 10 minutes of sunshine a day is enough to lift your mood and make you feel good. Having a tan makes you feel healthy and can be good for your self image too. That said you still have to take care not to burn in the sun and make sure you slap on a good sunscreen.
Each time your skin becomes tanned or burned, damage is done to individual skin cells and DNA. Some cells die and some repair themselves by getting rid of the damaged DNA. Cells that cannot repair themselves eventually become defective cancerous cells.
Sunlight ages you more than anything else. Your skin contains proteins called collagen and elastin. Both are damaged by sunlight, even after only 2-3 minutes. The more sunlight you expose your skin to, the more you put yourself at risk and it is worse if you're fair skinned; burn often or spend too long in the sun. The same applies to sunbeds too. They are no safer than the real thing. You still have the same issues - ageing, cancer, sunburn.
- Opt for shade between 10am and 4pm.
- Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses. The face and neck are the areas most commonly affected by sun damage.
- Slap on loads of sun protection. The paler your skin the higher the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Nothing under factor 15.
- Choose sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB (the two main types of damaging sunlight). Reapply regularly, especially after swimming.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid sunstroke
- Watch moles. If any change, itch, bleed or spread, get them checked by a doctor.
- Fake it. Gone are the days when having a fake tan meant looking like a zebra. There are so many options out there for a year-round tan. Exfoliate, and then slap it on. Remember though, fake tan does not offer any protection from the sun.
NHS Direct
The NHS site has an online health section that has lots of information on skincare in the sun.
SunSmart
Advice on what is safe when out and about in the sun for your skin type.
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