5 Sunburn Myths That Can Harm Your Health

AFTER a disappointing spring, hot weather is finally here – with the mercury set to soar to 31C (89F) in the coming days.

Many of us are going out to enjoy the sun – but as always, it’s important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Regarding tanning and sunburn, there are still various misconceptions and the consequences of not following sun protection advice can be severe – especially as skin cancer rates in the UK have risen, the charity has warned.

Here are five sunburn myths that can harm your health.

– The British and Irish suns are not strong enough for sunburns

We may grumble about the dreary weather in our part of the world, but the risk of sunburn persists for much of the year.

‘The sun can be strong enough in the UK between mid-March and mid-October to burn you,’ said Karis Betts from Cancer Research UK, as reported on dailymail.com, Monday (12/6/2023).

“You are most likely to burn in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest, not necessarily its hottest.”

UV rays are generally strongest between 11am and 3pm, he says: ‘It is wise to rest in the shade or indoors during these hours. And remember, you can pass through the clouds.’

– You have to be red before you can turn brown

Our skin color can become darker in the sun due to the release of melanin as the skin tries to protect itself.

But that doesn’t mean you have to turn lobster red first to try and get a tan.

“This is one of the biggest myths in sun protection, and contributes to skin damage and cases of skin cancer,” says Abi Cleeve, MD of Ultrasun UK.

“The fact is once the skin turns red, it is due to trauma. A “trauma tan” occurs due to insufficient protection where it appears that the skin is getting tanned faster, but it is not – the skin has been burned. It just ensures that the skin is exfoliated, keeps the skin from getting tanned within a few days.”

To avoid this pattern, Cleeve recommends gradually building up your time in the sun, and using a sunscreen with a higher SPF.

“Use high SPF UVA and UVB filters – a minimum of SPF30 with a UVA filter of over 90 percent will protect skin and keep it tanned. , only slower [dan] minimize long-term damage and peeling.”

– The odd sunburn doesn’t make a difference

It’s easy to get caught out by a sudden burst of sun, but don’t be fooled into thinking that a single instance of sunburn here and there is fine.

“This is something I hear a lot but unfortunately, it’s not true,” Betts said.

“Sun damage to our skin is the number one cause of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, and sun damage builds up over time – it doesn’t go away after the burn wears off.”

That’s why wearing sunscreen is so important – especially for children.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even one sunburn in childhood or youth more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life.

– People with darker skin do not get sunburned easily

“Anyone can get a sunburn – including people with darker skin – but your risk of sunburn and how a sunburn feels will depend on your skin type,” says Beth Vincent from Cancer Research UK.

“For people with lighter skin tones, sunburned skin is usually red, sore and swollen. In people with darker skin tones, sunburned skin may not change color but often feels irritated, itchy, sore and sore.”

Although people with lighter skin tones are generally at increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer, you should still use sunscreen if you have darker or tanned skin.

When it comes to sunscreen for darker skin tones, Betts recommends at least an SPF15 and four or five stars [untuk perlindungan UVA]. Make sure to reapply regularly and a lot, especially after swimming, sweating or towels.

– All parts of the body are created equal when it comes to sunscreen

“Burning – overexposure to UVB light – tends to occur where the skin is closer to the bone structure, and especially where the body parts are exposed to direct sunlight,” says Cleeve.

“Top of feet, shoulders, decollete, top of scalp and nose – be careful in these areas.”

Other areas that are easy to miss include the scalp or cleavage, the ears, areas around the swimsuit such as the straps, and shorts that may move or lift throughout the day.

Cleeves top end for all-around protection? ‘Do your sun cream naked! Then every movement in the straps, the shorts will not suddenly open the skin that is not protected from the sun

– Aftersun products repair sun damage

“No, they don’t,” said Vincent. “While aftersun products can ease the unpleasant symptoms of sunburn, they won’t repair the damage done to the DNA in your cells.”

“If you start to see signs of burning, cover up or get out of the sun as soon as possible, she warns: ‘Don’t spend more time in the sun that day – even with sunscreen. And don’t rely on aftersun to repair the damage, because it can’t.” (red)