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Spring is in the air, and it may still be chilly, but the sun is starting to come out from behind the clouds. A little bit of exposure to the sun is good for you, and will help your skin produce much-needed vitamin D, but overdoing it is fatal for your complexion. Using sunscreen regularly is an essential part of every beauty regime, to help you avoid the perils of premature ageing.

UVA is for ageing

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Sunlight is made up of UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays cause sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, causing ageing and skin cancer. While it’s important to protect against both kinds of damage, good sunscreens should have a high UVA rating. In the UK, the Boots Star Rating is used to measure the ability of a sunscreen to protect against UVA damage caused by the sun. Look for a rating of five stars on your sunscreen, to be sure you are getting the maximum amount of protection.

Daily protection

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Many people associate using sunscreen with holidays abroad and time spent sunbathing on the beach. But even in the UK, sunscreens should be used daily. Sun exposure occurs all the time, whether you are playing sport, gardening, or just spending time outdoors. Besides using a good sunscreen, be sure to cover up with a hat and sunglasses every time you are outdoors.

The truth about sunbeds

Many people think a tan is a sign of health, and sunbeds are an easy way to bronze the skin year round. But the UVA rays a sunbed emits cause deep cellular damage that builds up over time, and it’s estimated that the use of sunbeds causes 100 deaths from melanoma (a type of skin cancer) a year.

Choosing a sunscreen

Photo: Clinique

As mentioned above, sunscreen should have a high UVA rating. But sunscreen should also have a high SPF (sun protection factor). Sunscreens with an SPF of 15 filter 92 per cent of UVB rays and allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer than you normally could without burning. Vichy and L’Oreal both make excellent light sunscreen for the face, and L’Oreal’s Solar Expertise is tinted, helping to even out the complexion while offering excellent protection. For the body, Clinique makes a good range of non-sticky sunscreen.

The damage you cause when you tan can’t be reversed, and skin cancer is on the rise worldwide. Choose a good sunscreen, and wear it every day. Don’t be shy when you apply it – the more you use, the more effective it will be.

Tags: sunscreen