StyleNest team up with Dr Stefanie Williams, the founder and Medical Director at European Dermatology London, a private dermatology clinic in London’s Harley Street and Chelsea Bridge and talks sun myths and healthy summer skin.
Tanning season is upon us, but whilst the sun has got his hat on, we often forget the harmful side effects that go with. Sun exposure is far from healthy and can cause a whole host of premature-ageing ‘nasties’ from wrinkles to age spots, not to mention skin cancer.
Myth 1: ‘SPF 15 in my morning moisturiser protects my skin from ageing’
“Unfortunately the SPF12-15 usually found in regular moisturisers doesn’t cut the mustard, as we don’t re-apply it every two hours and we simply don’t use anywhere near as much as the thick layers they slap on when they test sunscreens in labs” explains Dr Stefanie. “Scientific studies have shown that the amount of sun-cream a ‘normal’ person applies only gives a fraction (and I mean a fraction!) of the SPF printed on the pack. You need to apply a broad-spectrum protection with SPF (UVB) 30-50 and high UVA protection, so you’ll have some decent protection throughout the day”.
Myth 2: ‘I don’t need sun protection on a cloudy day’
“I know what you’re thinking… ‘With our miserable British weather, do you seriously expect me to wear a broad-spectrum, high sun protection cream every day?’ Sorry but there’s more grim news. While you might not get sunburnt, your skin can still be exposed to significant amounts of UVA without even noticing. UVA can penetrate window glass and clouds, so has an impact even on cloudy days. I always recommend using the same sun protection level of broad-spectrum SPF 30-50 whether the sun is out or not.”
Myth 3: ‘Fake tans won’t harm my skin’
“Although much less harmful for your skin than baking on a beach, I do have some reservations” she explains. “During the chemical process which stains the skin brown, a certain amount of free radicals are generated, which can cause oxidative stress in the skin. If you need a glow, try using a good mineral make-up or bronzer instead!”
Myth 4: ‘I need to expose my skin to sunlight to produce Vitamin D’
“A sufficient level of vitamin D in your blood is crucial to overall health but as a dermatologist, I would much rather recommend taking vitamin D supplements if you’re deficient. Ultimately, UV light not only ages your skin, but can also cause skin cancer. There is unfortunately no established level of sun exposure, which will guarantee to produce enough vitamin D without harming your skin.”
Myth 5: ‘If my foundation and powder has an SPF, my skin’s safe from the sun’
“Your foundation or mineral powder might claim to contain an SPF, but you should still wear sunscreen underneath. Let’s face it, you’d have to trowel on make up to achieve the daily broad-spectrum SPF30-50 and for powder, it’s even more difficult to reach the SPF stated on the pack. So much for the natural look!”
For more information visit www.eudelo.com and www.FutureProofYourSkin.com
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