Imagine you’re relaxing in the blissful sunshine, not a care in the world until – oh… you’re now a lobster. We’ve all done it; so desperate to top up our tans to show off to our annoyingly lucky friend who goes on holiday six times a year. But you’ve overdone it, and now, instead of being a bronzed goddess, you’re a rather unattractive shade of mahogany. So why do we let it happen?
Many people forget that it takes at least half an hour for sun cream to be absorbed into your skin, so it’s important to apply before you leave your room. (It’s also tricky to apply sufficiently in public whilst still maintaining modesty!).
Continual reapplication is important when you’re sunning yourself as most sun creams will lose their effectiveness after a couple of hours. It’s especially vital if you’re taking regular dips in the pool or sea because even if the bottle says ‘waterproof’, the likelihood is that its levels of protection will still reduce dramatically after contact with water.
So it’s a cloudy day, no need for sun cream right? Wrong! Up to 40% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day and can still cause serious damage. Don’t be fooled by the cloak of grey, the sun is still shining as bright as the day before.
Always check that the sun cream you’re using protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. While most will cover UVB (the chief culprit of sunburn), it’s UVA rays that penetrate deeper and have been linked to wrinkling, leathering and skin defects.
So follow these simple rules and stay safe in the sun on your next On the Beach holiday!
