You’re probably applying sunscreen wrong
Millions of Brits could be putting their health at risk by not applying sunscreen properly, as experts warn.
Eight out of 10 Brits don’t apply sunscreen before going out in the sun, according to an online poll from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). Furthermore, a worrying 70% do not reapply the protection every two hours. Other potentially bad habits include seeking shade only when feeling hot, not to avoid burning, as the Mirror UK reports.
“Applying liberally half an hour before going out into the sun, and then again shortly after going outside, is vital to ensure that you are fully covered and that the sunscreen has had time to be absorbed into the skin,” said BAD’s Johnathon Major. “It should then be reapplied at least every two hours, as the protective filters can break down over time.”
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“It should also be reapplied after any activity where it might be accidentally removed, such as swimming. Water-resistant sunscreens are not friction-resistant, and therefore they can be accidentally removed if you towel dry after swimming or sweating,” he added.
Getting a tan might look great, but it also increases the risk of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer: melanoma. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and rates have been increasing since the 1960s. Eeach year, in addition to over 13,000 new cases of melanoma, more than 250,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer – the most common type – are diagnosed, leading to 2,148 annually.
“While we have succeeded in making people aware of the link between sunburn and skin cancer, we have more work to do in teaching people how to use sunscreen properly,” said Major.
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