What to consider before you say “Hello Sunshine”…

Well we are fully in the thick of summer, although it may not feel like it some days with the typical British weather! But, for those hot hot days, I wanted to share some pointers to consider when it comes to the sun. Today, many of us are aware of some of the drastic side effects that too many hours in the sun can have…wrinkles, dark spots and premature ageing sound familiar!? But is it also possible that we have become too cautious about that shining sphere in the sky? And, how much sun is too much sun? Well you’ve come to the right place, because SkinBase followers, here’s the scoop…

Well, we are fully in the thick of summer, although it may not feel like it some days with the typical British weather! But, for those hot hot days, I wanted to share some pointers to consider when it comes to the sun. These days, many of us are aware of some of the drastic side effects that too many hours in the sun can have…wrinkles, dark spots and premature ageing sound familiar!? But is it also possible that we have become too cautious about that shining sphere in the sky? And, how much sun is too much sun? Well you’ve come to the right place, because SkinBase followers, here’s the scoop…

The good stuff:

Probably the biggest benefit of sunshine, (and no we are not talking about a tan that burns your skin within an inch of its life) is that it provides your body with Vitamin D. research shows that this wonderful Vitamin helps the body to protect itself against internal cancers, as well as various neurological, immune, cardiovascular and bone diseases, depression, osteoporosis, breast cancer, and even affects obesity and diabetes and obesity – to name but a few. So, the sun can be amazing – but in careful and considered quantities!

The not so good stuff:

No doubt we’ve all been sunburnt at least once in our lives but that’s not the only unpleasant side effect of the sun. Did you know that too much sun exposure can cause skin damage such as wrinkles, benign tumours and skin discolouration? But perhaps even scarier than that is the threat of cancer; in fact, UV radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer today. Scary stuff!

But what does this all mean?

So now you might be feeling confused, hang on…how can the sun prevent cancer but also cause it? Then what do I do? I think the valuable lesson to take away here is that the sun is an amazing thing. It can be extremely beneficial to our health and if enjoyed responsibly it’s nothing to be afraid of. So here are a few tips…

  • Hats and sunglasses look amazing teamed with the right outfit but let’s be honest, they aren’t just accessories, they are essentials on the hottest days. They can provide protection to both your face and eyes. So bring them along on your adventures in the sun.
  • SPF 30 minimum is highly recommended. I’ve been on girlie holidays where factor 6 and, dare I say, no factor at all have been in existence and it’s just not worth the risk girlies. Try a spray-on brand as they are less messy and only take a moment to apply.
  • Try to avoid direct sunlight between the hours of noon and 3pm because this is when the sun is at its strongest.

image:istock.com/AndreaObzerova