Most of us enjoy being outside when it’s sunny, and a little sunshine can actually be beneficial. But we all know that too much can do a lot of damage to our skin, which is why it’s so important to protect yourself and your family from harmful UV rays.
Common sun problems
Polymorphic light eruption (PLE)
Prickly heat
Cold sores
Allergic reactions
Reactions caused by drugs
Eczema and psoriasis
Understanding the sun
Why do I tan?
Picking the right protection for you
How long can I stay out in the sun?
Tips for staying safe
Soothing sunburned skin
Looking after your little ones in the sun
Common sun problems
Some of us, especially babies, children and people with fair skin, are very sensitive to UV rays and may find that spending time in the sun either brings them out in, or aggravates, a rash. There’s a brief look at some of the most common ones below.
Polymorphic light eruption (PLE)
Up to one in five people in the UK suffer from this sun allergy, which causes a red, itchy rash. Unlike prickly heat, which it’s often mistaken for, it will only appear on areas of the skin that aren’t covered up by clothing. It’s triggered by sunlight, so use a high factor UVA/UVB sunscreen to protect your skin.
Prickly heat
This is a sore, red, itchy rash that occurs when we sweat a lot in hot, sticky climates. The best way to deal with it is to keep your skin cool and as dry as possible, and it should clear up in a couple of days.
Cold sores
Specialists believe that sunlight can reduce your skin’s natural defences, causing viruses like cold sores to flourish. You can help prevent them by using a sunblock on your lips and around your mouth and nose.
Allergic reactions
When the sun interacts with the chemicals found in some perfumes, make-up and toiletries, it can cause a skin irritation that looks a bit like dermatitis.
Reactions caused by drugs
Some drugs, including those prescribed for acne, blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and bladder or kidney infections, may cause the skin to react with the sun. These will normally have a printed warning on the label, but check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re in doubt.
Eczema and psoriasis
If you get either of these, you may find symptoms either improve or get worse in the sun. In both cases, keep your skin well-moisturised and use a high-factor sunscreen for sensitive skin.
Understanding the sun
The two main types of rays we need to protect our skin from are UVA and UVB. UVA rays reach deeper layers of skin, and are responsible for premature ageing, as well as triggering some skin allergies. UVA radiation is the same all year round, however dull it looks outside.
UVB are more powerful rays that can result in sunburn and, in some cases, skin cancer. This type of radiation is generally only a problem in strong sunshine.
Why do I tan?
When your skin’s exposed to the sun, UVB rays stimulate skin cells to produce more melanin, the brown pigment in skin. UVB also causes certain skin cells to become thicker, which is why tanned skin can sometimes feel dry and leathery.
Experts say there’s no such thing as a safe tan, but if you do like a bit of colour, the safest way to do it is gradually, by always using the right level of protection and taking care not to burn. You’ll find plenty of advice further on in this section.
Picking the right protection for you
• Very fair – red or blond hair and blue eyes. Your skin always burns and never tans. Choose an SPF 50 sun screen
• Fair – fair hair and fair skin. Your skin burns easily but tans lightly too. Use SPF 25 to 50 then SPF 15 once you’re tanned
• Medium – brown hair and medium skin tone. You’re still susceptible to burning but will slowly develop a tan. Go for SPF 25, then SPF 15 once you’re tanned
• Olive – dark brown hair and olive skin. You rarely burn and tan very well. Pick an SPF 15, then an SPF 8 when you’re tanned
• Brown – dark hair, eyes and skin. You rarely burn and will develop a deep tan. Choose SPF 6, then SPF 4 once you’re tanned
• Black – very dark brown hair, eyes and skin. You only burn under exceptional circumstances, and your skin tone just tends to deepen rather than tan. You might need an SPF 4 if it’s very sunny
Always use a very high SPF for infants under 6 months, skin sensitive to sun allergies and delicate places like lips, ears, foreheads, bald heads and nipples.
How long can I stay out in the sun?
We all have a little natural protection from the sun, which stops us from going red as soon as we step out in it. However this really doesn’t last long, and you need to think about the right protection to keep your skin healthy.
The sun protection factor (SPF) on the front of your bottle of sun cream tells you how many times your natural protection it’ll give. So if you guess your natural protection time to be about 8 minutes and you use an SPF 25 lotion you’ll have protection for 3 hours and 20 minutes.
What lots of people don’t realise is that during this time you still need to smooth on some more lotion. Applying more at regular intervals is essential, but it won’t extend the amount of time you can stay out in the sun. Once your protection time’s up, you’ll need to seek shade or cover up, otherwise you’ll start to burn.
Tips for staying safe
• Choose sun protection creams and lotions with a high SPF and balanced UVA/UVB protection – this is indicated by the numbers and star ratings on the bottles
• Apply the cream or lotion 20 minutes before going outside and every hour or two after, as well as after swimming or rubbing your skin with a towel
• Pay special attention to areas that are very exposed to the sun, like your nose, cheeks, forehead, ears, neck and shoulders
• Keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm when the it’s at its hottest and most dangerous
• As soon as you feel your starting to burn, get out of the sun – it’s not worth the soreness and the damage you could be doing
• Remember, even if you don’t feel hot, you could still be burning, as UV rays can get through light cloud
• Some loose-weave fabrics can still let the sun through, so wear close-weave cotton, a broad-brimmed hat and good quality sunglasses
• The sun’s rays can penetrate glass, water and some clothes, so take care when you’re swimming, driving your car or even in the office. It can also be reflected off water, sand, snow and concrete, intensifying its burning power
• Don’t forget that close to the equator and at high altitudes the sun is stronger
• It’s not just during the summer that you’re susceptible to UV damage. It’s a risk all year round, so if you want to slow the signs of premature ageing, wear an SPF moisturiser
• After a day in the sun, rinse the sand, salt, chlorine, sweat and sun lotions off your skin then apply a cooling aftersun
Soothing sunburned skin
• Mild sunburn can be as simple as slightly pink, itchy skin, and it’ll usually heal by itself in a couple of days. You can smooth on a little aftersun moisturiser to rehydrate and soothe your skin
• If your sunburn’s more serious, it may feel painful to touch and may start to peel. An emollient cream will help to calm it down and make you more comfortable
• Severe sunburn can cause blisters, as if your skin’s been burnt by fire. You may also feel nauseous, dizzy, feverish and have a headache. If this happens, call a doctor immediately
Because our skin’s so resilient and can heal itself very quickly, many of us don’t realise the real and lasting harm we’re doing when we let our skin get burnt. As well as causing the skin to age prematurely, it can, in some cases, lead to skin cancer. The risk of you developing skin cancer increases every time you burn your skin, and while the burn will heal in a few days the damage will last forever.
Make sure you keep an eye on any changes in your skin, and see a doctor if you’re worried, or if a mole changes colour or shape, bleeds, itches or grows rapidly.
Looking after your little ones in the sun
Children need extra protection from the sun because research has shown that damage done while they’re still little can increase their risk of skin cancer later in life. Children have thinner skin, with less melanin, so they’re more susceptible to burning. Use a very high factor sun screen on their skin all summer. When the sun’s at its hottest, try to keep them covered up with clothing and, if possible, out of the sun completely.
