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With a hot summer promised by weather reports, many Britons will be spending time outdoors this season, soaking up the sun’s rays. While a little exposure to UV light will up your mood and help your body make much needed vitamin D, too much time in the sun is linked to premature ageing and skin cancer. Here are some tips for staying safe outdoors this summer.

Stay sun safe

UV light damage is responsible for melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer, causing the death of 1,800 people in the UK annually. If this isn’t enough to convince you to stay safe in the sun, cosmetic doctors cite sun damage as the number one factor leading to premature ageing. A tan is actually a sign of sun damage, so forget the idea that a bronzed glow looks ‘healthy’. If you must go bronze this summer, use self-tanning lotions, bronzer, and consider getting a spray-on tan.

Cover up

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Avoid being outdoors between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest, if you possibly can. And whenever you are in the sun, cover up. Wearing skimpy clothing in the sun might be tempting, but it can make you prone to sun damage. A broad-rimmed hat will protect your face, and a good pair of sunglasses is essential to avoid UV light damage to your eyes. When spending time relaxing in the garden, a garden parasol will help protect your skin.

Lather on that lotion

Sunscreen should be used daily, and reapplied every few hours. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (one that protects against UVA and UVB rays) with a high SPF, of 30 or above. If you use an exfoliant like salicylic acid on your face, it is especially important to use a strong sunscreen designed to protect the sensitive skin on the face from UV light damage.

If you’re careful to protect your skin you can enjoy a little fun in the sun, but this season, the tan is out.

Tags: garden, skin care, sunglasses, sunscreen