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Sun Protection

The sun that we love so much has a profound and prolonged effect not just on our environment but on our skin too. Exposure to the ultra-violet rays causes changes to the skin that is not always beneficial such as premature ageing and different types of skin cancers.  Although we need the sun to metabolise certain vital vitamins our bodies need to remain healthy, the long-term constant exposure will causes irreparable irreversible damage that is quite often not immediately visible.

Dr Thomas Fitzpatrick developed the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale to help us analyse the skin type’s tolerance to sun exposure. Although Asian and Black skins contain more melanin giving them greater protection from the harmful rays of the sun then Caucasian skins, they too can suffer from over-exposure to the sun’s rays resulting in pigmentation, dark marks or patches.  Wearing a good sun-protection is a must for all skin types regardless of ethnicity as the damage ultra-violet rays such as UVA or UVB do can never be underestimated.

KNOW YOUR SUN RAYS

The sun’s rays are classed in three different categories: UVA; UVB & UVC. Their classification is based on their wave length from the Sun to Earth.  UVA & UVB are the most harmful as they reach the Earth, UVC does not.

 

UVA

Always present even on a cloudy day. Can penetrate clothing & glass; Long rays The kind of rays used in tanning salons; penetrates into the dermis damaging cells leading to leathery skin & wrinkles; Depletes Collagen & Elastin leaving you with sagging skin Causes retinal damage; photo-ageing; Cancer; Using Sunbeds before aged 30 increases risk of skin cancer; Damage is not immediately visible but will show in later years
UVB These rays are more prevalent in summer are not the same strength all year round; Reflect off water & snow; Shorter rays; Some are absorbed by Earth’s Ozone layer These are the rays people mean when they say ‘Keep out of the Midday Sun!’; Penetrates the Epidermis; Accelerates melanin production; Provides you with Vitamin D Gives you sunburn; Cancer; Skin disorders; Weakens immune system; Alters the distribution & function of white blood cells
UVC These rays are unable to reach Earth. The Ozone Layer and Oxygen over Earth  prevent their penetration No harm done as they are absorbed by the layers above Earth

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Avoid the sun during peak hours. Generally, this is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Water, snow, sand and concrete reflect light and increase the risk of sunburn. Wear sun protective clothing. This includes pants, shirts with long sleeves, sunglasses and hats. Use sunscreen. Look for broad-spectrum* coverage with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.

*Broad Spectrum – There are two types of UV light that can harm your skin — UVA and UVB. A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects you from both. UVA rays can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkling and age spots. UVB rays can burn your skin. Too much exposure to UVA or UVB rays can cause skin cancer. The best sunscreen offers protection from UV light.

WHAT IS SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF shows how well it protects you against UVB rays. (UVA protection isn’t rated.) Manufacturers calculate SPF based on how long it takes to sunburn skin treated with the sunscreen as compared to skin with no sunscreen. Experts recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreens with SPFs greater than 30 provide only a small increase in UV protection and high-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs.

Sunscreen is often not applied thoroughly or thickly enough, and it can be washed off during swimming or sweating. As a result, sunscreen might be less effective than the SPF number suggests.

WHAT DOES WATER RESISTANT MEAN?

If it says water resistant it means that the SPF is maintained for up to 40 minutes in water. If it says very water resistant means the SPF is maintained for 80 minutes in water

WHEN YOU USE SUNSCREEN:

  • Apply generous amounts of sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before you go outdoors.
  • Use sunscreen on all skin surfaces that will be exposed to the sun, such as your neck, the tops of your feet, your ears and the top of your head. Apply a lip balm or lipstick with an SPF to your lips.
  • Check the sunscreen’s expiration date.
  • Avoid using sunscreen on children younger than age 6 months. Instead, try to limit sun exposure.
  • Since UV light can pass through clouds, use sunscreen even when it’s cloudy. Use sunscreen year-round, but don’t let any product lull you into a false sense of security about sun exposure. A combination of shade, clothing, sunscreen and common sense is your best bet.

THE FITZPATRICK SCALE

Below is a Sun Protection guide using the Fitzpatrick Scale to help you buy the correct Sun protection.

PLEASE NOTE: this is only a guide and you must take into consideration the intensity of the Sun and how much you will be exposed, to wherever you are.

 

SKIN

TYPE

APPEARANCE REACTION TO SUN EXPOSURE AWARENESS SUN

INTENSITY & SPF GUIDE

TYPE 1 Very fair; Blonde; Red hair; Light coloured eyes; Freckles Burns easily; Never tans; Very sun-sensitive Great risk of cancer; Always wear high SPF sun protection; Wear hat & sunglasses; Check skin regularly for any abnormalities; Possibility of skin cancer

 

LOW: SPF 15

MEDIUM: SPF 15-30

HIGH: SPF 30-45

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

Environ: SPF15

Medik8 Broad Spectrum:  SPF 30

Vitage:    SPF 30

Priori:      SPF45

Jane Iredale Make Up:

Powerful on-the-go Sun

Protection that is weightless & dry with Physical SPF30 Broad Spectrum for the Face, Body & Scalp. Can wear alone or over make up.

Pure Pressed Mineral Powder

A foundation, powder, concealer and broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 20 UVB/UVA. Made from micronized minerals, free of synthetic chemicals, oil free and weightless & water resistant to 40 minutes.

Dream Tint – Tinted Moisturiser

SPF 15 broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sun protection. Reef safe. Water resistant to 40 minutes. Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective broad spectrum sunscreen.

Glow Time – Full Coverage

Contains SPF 25 or SPF 17* broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sun protection. Water resistant to 40 minutes. Reef safe. Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective broad spectrum sunscreen.

* SPF 25 – shades: BB1, BB3, BB4, BB5,BB6, BB7 and BB8. SPF 17 – shades: BB9, BB11 and BB12

Enlighten Concealer

Protects with broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sun protection. Shades 0-2 SPF 30 and Shades 3-4 SPF 20

Lip Drink – Lip Balm

Broad spectrum SPF 15 sunscreen. Reef safe. Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective broad spectrum sunscreen.

TYPE 2 Fair; Blonde; Red hair;

Light colour eyes

 

Burns Easily; Tans with difficulty; Mild sun-sensitivity

 

 

As for TYPE 1

TYPE 3 Fair; Fair hair;

Varied eye colour

Can burn; Tans gradually; Mild sun-sensitivity Skin still vulnerable; Always wear high SPF sun protection; Wear hat & sunglasses; Check skin regularly for any abnormalities; Possibility of skin cancer

 

TYPE 4 Moderate Pigmentation;

Varied eye colour

Rarely burns;

Tans easily; Little sun-sensitivity

Skin still vulnerable; Wear SPF sun protection; Wear hat & sunglasses; Check skin regularly for any abnormalities

 

TYPE 5 Medium to heavy pigmentation; Dark/Varied eye colour Rarely burns; Tans easily; Least sun-sensitivity As for TYPE 4
TYPE 6 Black skin; Deep pigmentation Tans easily; Tends not to burn; Least sun-sensitivity Not vulnerable; Wear low SPF sun-protection; UV can damage eyes so wear hat or sunglasses; Avoid excessive exposure

 

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