A Welcome Bit Of Sunshine!

We seem to be enjoying some late Summer sunshine this weekend, and of course that sends us all looking for the sun loungers and summer clothing that we had packed away only last week, thinking that the summer was over!


It's great to see the sun again, and we all enjoy it's warmth, perhaps taking the opportunity to lunch 'alfresco' as Clinicguru did today. But as I was sitting in a very pleasant part of Sussex, watching my fellow lunch companions soaking up the sunshine, I was very mindful that we still need to exercise care with our skins in the sun, even at this late stage of the summer.


I couldn't help wondering how many of the diners sitting outside had taken the trouble to apply any kind of sun protection, let alone the right type! Having come straight back to my computer I started to do some research, and discovered, not surprisingly, some very varied and conflicting advice about what type of sun protection we should be using.


I know from my own experiences with clients that, when asked whether they use an SPF (Sun Protection Factor), their replies range from "There's one in my makeup" to "I use an SPF 50!" The SPF in the makeup will give minimal protection, as it is combined with the makeup, and not applied separately. The SPF 50 in fact is no better than an SPF 15, and this fact is backed up by research carried out by Cancer Research UK. Dr Des Fernandez, founder of Environ skincare, feels that an SPF of 15, combined with an anti oxidant combination of vitamins E and C, and a broad-spectrum protection range (protecting from both UVA and UVB radiation) offers the best protection, as it effectively filters the harmful rays that cause burning and long-term damage, whilst at the same time helping to minimise the free radical activity in our skin cells, which is triggered by exposure to the sun.


UVA rays from the sun cause DNA cell damage, and consequently skin ageing, so it's a good idea to protect our skins as much as possible.www.watersedgeclinic.co.uk


RAD, the Environ sun care protection cream, has been formulated to address these issues, and is very effective in providing the necessary protection, whilst preserving skin health. When you consider that you can also receive sun damage on a cloudy day too, it's worth remembering to apply your RAD every day before you leave the house!