SUMMER has finally arrived and Brits are basking in the sunny weather.
But if you're out and about enjoying the heat this weekend, it's worth sparing a minute or two for your skin.
While it can be wonderful to get your tan on, exposing yourself to the sun is known to increase your risk of skin cancer.
There are various forms of the disease that generally fall under two categories: non-melanoma and melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease.
While both are treatable if caught early, prevention is always better than treatment – and one of the best forms of prevention is sun cream.
Two doctors have shared their top tips on picking a good sunscreen – and you'll be relieved to hear it doesn't include opting for the most expensive option.
Read more on sun cream
21 Best sun creams UK 2023: Once-a-day, factor 50, and sensitive skin sunscreens
Cheap supermarket own-brand sun cream comes top as big brand fails safety test
"It’s essential to use adequate skin protection," Dr Deborah Lee of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy told The Sun.
"If you get sun burnt just once every two years, this trebles your risk of the skin cancer, melanoma," she explained.
Melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, is diagnosed 16,000 times a year.
The deadly disease takes the lives of 2,340 people per year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Most read in Health
Fury as health chiefs ban booze at work events as 'no safe level of drinking'
I was covered golf-ball sized blisters after touching UK's 'most dangerous plant'
What the letters, numbers and symbols on sun cream bottles really mean
The ‘silent’ symptom of diabetes you may notice during sex & 5 unusual signs
This is due to the effects of both UVA and UVB rays, which are associated with skin cancer and skin burning, respectively.
How to pick the right sunscreen for you
As it turns out don't have to spend a fortune on your sun cream to ensure good protection.
"It's not about whether the product is cheap, or expensive," GP and skincare expert Dr Ahmed El Muntasar told The Sun.
"It's about making sure the stuff you do buy is good quality medical grade stuff."
"Medical grade skincare will actually gets absorbed into your skin rather than sits on the surface," he added.
Dr Deborah said the most important thing to look for buying sun screen is to find one that has broad spectrum protection.
These are sun creams that have both anti-UVA and anti-UVB protection.
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) advises the use of sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
They also suggested you make sure your sun cream has a UVA rating of at least four out of five stars.
But be aware that not all countries use this classification.
And for those with sensitive skin, the expert suggested looking for a "mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be a preferred option".
When buying your creams it's important to consider your activity level.
"If you swim and do water sports, use a water-resistant sunscreen, but these do need to be reapplied as advised by the manufacturer," she said.
The 3 cheap sun cream swaps
1. For the whole family
Pick: Tesco Soleil Sun Lotion SPF 50 (£2.80/200ml in Tesco)
Instead of: Ultrasun family SPF 30 (£20.80/150ml from Look Fantastic)
It can be hard to know what sun cream to buy the whole family.
On the one hand, you want it to be cheap as you'll have to buy a lot.
But you also want to make sure your kid's skin is well protected.
Well, as it turns out, Tesco's own brand sunsreeen does the job very well, according to aesthetic medical practitioner Dr Bhavjit Kaur.
"This sun cream has UVA and UVB protection, is water resistant and lightweight," she said.
It's UVA rating is five out of five, suggesting it provides great protection.
"It also contains a coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which is a good antioxidant – so this is a double benefit for the skin," Dr Bhavjit added.
Studies suggest CoQ10 can improve the texture of skin and reduce signs of ageing.
However, the lotion can result in white caste, the expert explained.
This means the cream can leave a white, filmy layer on the skin – which some people don't like.
2. For those with sensitive skin
Pick: Nivea Sun Ultra Violet Face Soothing Sensitive SPF 50 (£8/50ml in Boots)
Instead of: Murad city skin age defence broad spectrum sensitive skin SPF 50 (£66.00/50ml from Sephora)
For those with sensitive skin, fear not, there are also some affordable yet effective options for you, according to Dr Bhavjit.
She suggested people try Nivea's sensitive face sun cream.
"It has UVA, UVB and high energy visible light (HEVL) protection which is great," she said.
HEVL is the blue light emitted from our electronic devices, which has been found to also increase risk of skin cancer.
"The cream is also non-greasy and non-irritating which means it can be applied to the eye area which we generally avoid as some sunscreen irritate the eyes," she explained.
3. For those who love a tan
Pick: Bondi Sands SPF 50+(£7.99/150ml in CultBeauty)
Instead of: SUPERGOOP! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 (£20/71ml in Space NK)
Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan.
But if you're still after a slight summer glow, it's important to remember you can still develop a tan while wearing sun cream.
And who better to trust when it comes to the sun than Aussies!
This Australian brand, Bondi Sands, makes a whole range of sun screens, but Dr Deborah suggests your get your hands of this Bondi Sands product.
"This has many of the hallmarks of an excellent sunscreen," she explains.
It contains a combination of both UVA and UVB protection.
However, it's UVA rating stands at three out of five – lower that what medics suggest you should settle for.
"This lotion may be preferred by a person who wants to get a suntan, as opposed to someone who just wants to be shielded from the sun," she suggested.
"Reviews also suggest it's non sticky and that it sits well under makeup," she added.
Read More On The Sun
Love Island in most gut-wrenching twist ever as girl is DUMPED after Kady returns
TV’s Ross Kemp pulled out of trip on doomed Titanic sub over safety fears
The lotion is also water resistant so a great option for water lovers.
"It needs to be applied 20 minutes before going outside in the sun, and reapplied every two hours, or more frequently if sweating, and after swimming," she said.
Source: Read Full Article
