It’s suncream season.
The good weather is already starting to hit us and as the sun sweeps in, we need to look after our skin.
We all think the same thing during this weather, “sure it’s only Irish sun, I won’t get burned”, but what can lead to some long term skin damage.
Sun is sun, it will damage your skin no matter where in the world you are but thankfully, we can take steps to protect ourselves.
While we should be wearing an SPF on our faces every day of the year, the sunnier and warmer it gets, the more important it is.
Met Eireann has predicted that it might be finally time for BBQ season to be in full swing this weekend as the sun is set to appear in full by Saturday.
While there are set to be a few scattered showers throughout the week in most of the country, they are set to clear by Saturday leaving us running for the bottle of suncream.
Calm and clear conditions will arrive throughout Ireland and temperatures are set to reach as high as 20 degrees in some parts of the country.
Adding sunscreen into your morning skincare routine is a must, putting it on just after your moisturiser to give your skin an extra layer of protection.
Rain, shine, clouds, or sunny skies, you need to be wearing it every day as UV rays can damage your skin no matter what the weather is like.
Heck, they can even damage your skin without you leaving your house, shining through your windows and hitting your skin.
Realistically, the only time your skin is truly safe from harmful UV rays is at night, when we know for sure the sun isn’t out.
“Ultraviolet rays that are the cause of sun damage and skin cancer are always present,” Dr. Shilesh Iyer, M.D., a Board Certified dermatologist with New York Dermatology Group told Forbes.
“They are independent of cold or hot weather, and are not blocked by clouds. On overcast days, only visible rays (but not UVB rays) from the sun are blocked. The best way to protect the skin is with sun protection.”
Skincare brands these days mostly have sunscreen as one of their products, along with the rest of their range, so there’s no excuse to avoid it as part of your routine.
When it comes to the summer sun, the UV rays are that much stronger and can, of course, cause the skin to burn.
We all know that this can cause skin cancer, which we want to avoid at all costs, so the trick is to find the best formula of suncream.
When looking for a sunscreen, look for one with “broad spectrum” on the label. This means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
According to the American Cancer Society, all sunscreen products protect against UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers. But UVA rays is what causes premature aging, as well as skin cancer.
If you opt for a sunscreen without this on the label, it should have a warning to say that it only protects against sunburn and not skin cancer or aging.
