Dear Mariella, I keep reading about the importance of SPF. It’s not that hot. Do I really need to bother in the English spring?
I am a walking testament to the importance of SPF. I came to it late, and every summer I happily strip down to my bikini and contemplate the contrast between my upper thighs – exposed to sunlight a couple of times a year and my arms – exposed almost daily for decades. They might belong to a different person. So, the short answer is yes, yes you do need to wear it, all the time, year-round, and start as soon as possible.
The rays will age you every day
I turned to the experts for the scientific explanation; the brilliant Dr Christine Hall at the award-winning Tatouk Clinic tells me there are two sorts of skin-damaging rays.
So, UVA rays, which drive deeper ageing, are similar all year round, she says, whilst UVB rays, responsible for sunburn and skin cancer, rise significantly in the spring. This means that your skin is exposed to both short and long-term damage even when it doesn’t feel warm, and spring is when those UVB rays start to crank up.
Sun exposure is cumulative
One of the most unwelcome bits of new information I’ve unearthed recently is that sun damage is cumulative. Up to 90 per cent of visible skin-ageing is estimated to be UV-related. I have wrinkles in places I didn’t even know could wrinkle; above the knees for heaven’s sake, and on the inside of my arms, and now I realise that the problem will have started decades ago.
Dr Hall points out that every day of unprotected exposure leads to what she calls a ‘biological ‘sun burden’’ on the skin. So, if you were born in the Sixties or Seventies, you will have spent a carefree and sun cream free childhood cheerfully burning every summer (remember the satisfaction in peeling flakes of skin from red shoulders?).
And then, later on, all those misspent summers in Greece, cooking like a kebab on a spit roast, smeared in olive oil with a collar of tinfoil to attract the rays. That’s Grade A sun damage, kids. That early exposure influences how skin looks and functions later on; the more you expose skin in your youth, the more that damage is exacerbated. Who knew? The wrinkles and sunspots that ping up on your skin in your fifties started to develop decades previously, like so many other later life issues.
And finally, the triple whammy, as oestrogen levels fall, UV exposure has more of an impact says Dr Hall. Ah, menopause, truly the gift that keeps on giving!
Sunlit uplands
Don’t despair, you can still enjoy the feeling of sunlight on your skin. Just make sure you give it a decent veil of SPF before going outside. In winter, SPF30 might be sufficient, but in the summer SPF50 is recommended for daily use; apply after skincare and before make-up.
Thankfully, sunscreens are getting better, more pleasant to wear and are more multi-tasking by the year. I’m a big fan of Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF30 (from £14.40, sephora.co.uk). Does Gwyneth Paltrow have sun damage? I think not! A top choice for price is Altruist – a beauty editor favourite. They have an amazing SPF50 Primer (£7.50, victoriahealth.com) which is designed to apply under make-up, and gives the face a light radiance as well as top notch protection. Heliocare 360 products are great – the Oil-Free SPF 50 (£24.80, lookfantastic.com) is divine to use and excellent in the fight against pigmentation, and Korean brand Belif has just launched a powerful hydrating but light sun serum (Belif Super Drops, £22, lghnh.co.uk) that’s powered by Korean seaweed.
And on the subject of sun….is anyone else worried that global events are going to impact summer holidays? I am reading about impending jet fuel shortages and cancellations with a feeling of faint despair.
However, let’s not forget that the UK has so many beautiful areas; from Lizard Point to the Highlands. I am especially looking forward to a May Bank Holiday staycation at home with the children and the puppy, enjoying the beauty of an English spring – and – to be honest, hoping I’ll need plenty of SPF!
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