How rigorous are you at applying sun protection? A 2017 study from the University of Liverpool found that many of us fail to put sunscreen on our faces properly – despite the face being a very common site for skin cancer.
More than 90% of the most common skin cancer in the UK occurs on the head or neck, and between 5% and 10% of all skin cancers appear on the eyelids.
Experts are warning that a failure to apply sunscreen around the eye area is putting people at risk. The study was presented at the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual conference in Liverpool.
Dermatologists and cancer specialists are now warning people to take extra precautions such as wearing sunglasses and hats in the sun. Sunglasses protect not only the corneas in the eyes but the ‘highly cancer-prone eyelid skin’ – so don’t forget them.
And this is of utmost importance when protecting your child too. Optometrist Sonal Rughani cautions that parents should make sure their kids wear sunglasses in sunny weather from a young age to protect their eyes from damaging UV.
The University of Liverpool released the below image of their participants’ faces after they had applied sun cream. It shows how most of them missed the eye area all together…
1.Know your risk
Around eight in 10 cases of melanoma could be prevented if we took better care in the sun. It causes 2500 deaths a year in the UK – that’s seven people every day. People who burn more easily are at higher risk so should take more care.
2.Take the lead
Children lead by example and when we spoke to parents, 74% said they always make sure sunscreen of at least factor 15 is applied to their children, yet only 28% of UK adults with children always applied it to themselves.
3.Keep yourself protected at home as well as away
You can’t feel UV radiation, so it’s very easy to get sunburnt in the UK, even when it’s not particularly warm. UV levels are highest between the start of April and end of September in the UK, so remember to pop sunscreen, hats and sunglasses in your handbag when heading out. And stay in the shade as much as possible.
4.All the gear
It’s important to make sure you cover up when the sun is strong – it’s the first thing you should think about for sun protection. That means long-sleeved tops, wide-brimmed hats or caps and sunglasses.
5.Take C.A.R.E
Cancer Research UK recommend following this simple advice:
C – Cover up
Wear a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses
A – Aim for shade
Between the hours of 11am-3pm in the UK
R- Rub on sunscreen
Use plenty with at least SPF 15 and 4 star rating
E- Enjoy!
Have fun in the sun safely.
