Why Sun Cream is Your Third Best Defence Against Skin Cancer?

Introduction

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and it can spread quickly to the other parts of the body. When the skin is overexposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, the DNA within the skin’s cells is damaged. The DNA in the skin tells the cells how to function. If the DNA is damaged too much, then the DNA will begin to misunderstand their function which can cause them to divide and replicate too frequently and can cause what we know to be skin cancer. There are 3 main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma.

Unfortunately, no one can avoid skin cancer entirely. However, in this article we are going to outline the key steps needed to avoid skin cancer. There are 3 principles of protection against the sun’s harmful UV radiation and applying sun cream is the third and least important one. The top 2 methods both require a physical barrier between you and the sun. The best barrier is seeking shade, and then the second-best barrier is sun protective clothing.

Understanding Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a global public health concern, more commonly diagnosed than all other cancers combined. In the UK alone, melanoma skin cancer rates have increased by nearly 30% over the past decade. Currently, the UK is expected to see a record high of 20,800 cases of the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, this year. With 17,000 of these cases being preventable. Importantly, 90% of skin cancer cases are due to overexposure to UV radiation.

Three Pillars of Sun Protection

The best and most obvious preventative measure is simply staying out of the sun between 10am and 4pm; this is when the sun is at its strongest. Of course, we know this can be difficult at times, especially when you are on holiday with your kids.

You don’t want to have to live in fear of the sun. Instead, you can embrace the midday sun responsibly by using the appropriate protection. This can be done by wrapping up in Equatorsun’s sun protective clothing which will allow you to enjoy the outdoors whilst being sun safe. Sun protective clothing provides, unlike normal clothing, a physical barrier between you and the sun’s UV rays which is far more effective and reliable than sun cream.

We would recommend as a third line of defence, UPF50+ sun cream to be applied every few hours. Sun cream does not provide the same level of protection that clothing does, and it also relies on frequent application which we know can lapse at times when we are enjoying ourselves in the pool on holiday.

Number One: Seeking Shade

Getting completely out of sight of the sun’s UV rays during the peak intensity of the sun is the perfect protection. During peak intensity on a sunny day in Europe, the time it takes to burn can be as little as 15 minutes. That is just a short walk to the shop or a very quick swim. With high UV radiation levels, there is little room for error, and whether that is forgetting to re-apply sun cream or not covering your neck, the sun is unforgiving.

On a sunny day, we recommend being out of the sun between 10am and 4pm, this corresponds to when the UV index is 3 or higher. This doesn’t mean that your whole family have to hideaway on the sofa watching television during the day, instead, we recommend planning ahead and seeking shade. For example, carrying umbrellas during walks and relaxing in a shaded area of a café.

Number Two: Sun Protective Clothing

Sun protective clothing gives you the versatility to embrace the sun in all its glory. After all, you didn’t go on holiday to stay inside all day. Equatorsun’s specially designed, ultra-fine knit clothing absorbs and reflects UV radiation to always protect your skin from the sun, giving you the freedom to enjoy the outdoors.

Importantly, sun protective clothing doesn’t need to be re-applied like sun cream, nor does it degrade over time or lose effectiveness when you are swimming or sweating. Typically, even water-resistant sun creams can only last up to 40 minutes in water before losing effectiveness which often leads to people unknowingly getting sun burnt. Meanwhile protecting yourself with specially designed UV protective clothing will mean you can forget about getting sun burnt and focus more on having fun with the family.

We also see that clothing designed to be UV protective are typically manufactured to a very high standard with the use of lightweight, breathable and moisture-wicking fabrics to keep you cool in the heat. The use of sun protective clothes also reduces the need for chemical sun cream, which minimises the risk of potential irritation and allergies whilst protecting the environment from harsh chemicals. It is important to remember to always cover your eyes with sunglasses to protect them from the sun’s damaging rays, as these can lead to sunburn of the eye and even cataracts.

Number Three: Sun Cream

Sun cream works by absorbing and reflecting UV radiation through chemical and physical filters. When choosing a sun cream ensure that it is both broad spectrum and SPF30 or higher, blocking 97% of UV rays. UV radiation consists of both UVA and UVB rays, both of which can cause cancer. To keep yourself protected you want a broad-spectrum sun cream that will block both UVA and UVB rays. Always check the expiration date of your sun cream – it does expire!

Everyone, of all skin tones, benefits from wearing sun cream as it protects you from skin cancer and it also protects you from the accelerated ageing effect that UV radiation has on your skin. Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays can still age your skin and increase your chances of skin cancer, so it is recommended to wear sun cream every day. To note if you have sensitive skin, a physical sun cream will likely cause less irritation whilst being more gentle on the skin.

The pitfalls of consistent and effective re-application of sun cream make it unreliable as your only protection. Sun cream is a great line of defence, but we recommend that you pair it with sun protective clothing to give a complete level of protection.

Additional Sun Protection Strategies

The 3 pillars of protection described in this article are amazing ways to stay protected in the sun, but we would like to leave you with a few more:

• Take antioxidants:
• Neutralises free radicals
• Boosts collagen production
• Brightens your skin
• Enhances natural UV protection
• Take vitamin B3:
• Improves skin barrier
• Anti-inflammatory
• Reduces skin cancer risk
• Monitor your skin regularly - check your skin for changes in moles, spots, or new growths to catch early signs of skin damage or cancer. If in doubt, see a doctor!

Our Recommendations

With skin cancer rates rising dramatically, it is clear that there is no simple solution. Though the solution is to prepare. Prepare by using all of the approaches described in this article to ensure you are always protected. Remember, 5 sunburns in a lifetime can more than double the risk of getting skin cancer. Get yourself protected now!