How sun savvy are you?
THESE days many of us reckon we know all about the risks of soaking up too much sun.
But as we slap on the cream and head outside thinking we’re all sussed, maybe some of us still have nagging doubts in the back of our minds, little worries that the damage might have already been done after years of exposure.
And just how long IS it safe to be flopped on the lounger? And is a tan, that makes you look so healthy, REALLY bad for you?
Dr Walayat Hussain, consultant dermatologist at Nuffield Health, Leeds, has the clinical, and rather chilling, answer.
“UV from the sun induces DNA damage within skin cells. Usually, your immune system can repair this damage. But when you get excess sun exposure, your body’s immune system can’t keep up. The cumulative damage overwhelms it and can cause pre-cancerous changes and full-blown skin cancer.”
Here he sets a quiz to see how sun savvy you really are – and to help you stay safe. It’s significant
None, the damage is done It’s negligible No, it’s purely done for aesthetic reasons
Yes, it can help you monitor sun damage in the future
Yes, it can help prevent cancerous and pre-cancerous skin changes in the future One done gradually There’s no such thing as a safe tan
When you only tan occasionally Once in the morning is enough
Regularly
Two times – in the morning and afternoon
Cumulative damage to the immune system can cause skin cancer
A regular moisturiser A moisturiser with Sun Protection Factor A dedicated sun cream