With the recent soaring temperatures in the UK, individuals spending time outdoors without proper protection are at risk of damaging their skin.
Damage is caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. The danger is not isolated to bright, sunny days, as UV levels can remain high while it is cloudy, too. Even if you have a base level of tan, you should still be applying sun protection factor (SPF) to your skin.
What are the dangers?
In the short term, sunburn can cause your skin to blister and peel. Even a mild reddening of the skin can be a sign of damage.
Prolonged exposure to sun has an ageing effect on the skin and can result in a mottled, wrinkled and leathery texture. However, the most serious effect is an increased chance of developing skin cancer.
What can I do to protect myself?
The sun is at its strongest from between 11:00 – 15:00. If possible, you should try to avoid spending long periods of time in direct sunlight during these hours.
Clothes will provide some protection to your body, but you should seek to apply a high level SPF to your skin as well. The minimum recommended level would be SPF 15, however, SPF 30 or 50+ offer greater protection for your skin. You should ensure you are using a broad spectrum SPF that has an UVA and UVB star rating of four or more – this rating is clearly displayed on product packaging. Remember to also protect your eyes from the sun by wearing UV blocking sunglasses.
You should apply SPF between 15 to 30 minutes before going out into the sun, and make sure to reapply SPF to exposed skin every two hours after that (or straight away, if you’ve been swimming and your skin has become wet).
Claire Buchan from Health, Safety and Risk, will be touring our University’s campuses with leaflets and information to assist you with staying safe in the sun.
| 25 July 09:00 – 11:00 | Reception (Alpha House), University of Southampton Science Park |
| 25 July 12:00 – 14:00 | Canteen, Waterfront Campus at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) |
| 26 July 09:00 – 11:00 | Reception (B65), Avenue Campus |
| 26 July 12:00 – 14:00 | Canteen, Winchester School of Art |
| 1 Aug 12:00 – 14:00 | Staff Club, Highfield Campus |
You can view Cancer Research UK’s top 10 sun safety myths debunked, here. You can also find further information on enjoying the sun safely, here.
You can also find hints and tips in the Keep Healthy This Summer Toolkit 2018.
