
Reflected sunlight from snow, sand, concrete and water, and artificial light from sunbeds, is particularly dangerous.Īvoid looking directly at the sun, as this can cause permanent eye damage. Protect your eyes in the sunĪ day at the beach without proper eye protection can cause a temporary but painful burn to the surface of the eye, similar to sunburn. To ensure they get enough vitamin D, all children under 5 are advised to take vitamin D supplements.
#BEST SUNSCREEN FOR FAIR SKIN SKIN#
Their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin, and damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight could lead to skin cancer developing in later life.Ĭhildren aged under 6 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.įrom March to October in the UK, children should: Take extra care to protect babies and children. Sunscreen should be reapplied straight after you have been in water, even if it's "water resistant", and after towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off. Use water-resistant sunscreen if it's likely you'll sweat or have contact with water. Water also reflects ultraviolet (UV) rays, increasing your exposure.

Water washes sunscreen off, and the cooling effect of the water can make you think you're not getting burned. It's also recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin. This includes applying it straight after you have been in water, even if it's "water resistant", and after towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair, but a wide-brimmed hat is better. If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice: If you're worried you might not be applying enough SPF30, you could use a sunscreen with a higher SPF. If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced. Most people do not apply enough sunscreen.Īs a guide, adults should aim to apply around 6 to 8 teaspoons of sunscreen if you're covering your entire body. Sunscreens that offer both UVA and UVB protection are sometimes called broad spectrum.

This means the UVA protection is at least a third of the SPF value and meets EU recommendations. The letters "UVA" inside a circle is a European marking. You should see a star rating of up to 5 stars on UK sunscreens. The star rating measures the amount of ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) protection. SPFs are rated on a scale of 2 to 50+ based on the level of protection they offer, with 50+ offering the strongest form of UVB protection. The sun protection factor, or SPF, is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) protection. Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date.ĭo not spend any longer in the sun than you would without sunscreen. UVA protection can also be indicated by the letters "UVA" in a circle, which indicates that it meets the EU standard. a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB.When buying sunscreen, the label should have: Wear suitable clothing and spend time in the shade when the sun's at its hottest. What factor sunscreen (SPF) should I use?ĭo not rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from the sun. cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses.spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm.In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October. Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun's harmful effects.Īim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight. There's no safe or healthy way to get a tan. You can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy. Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday.

Advice for adults and children on sunscreen and sun safety in the UK and abroad.
