{"id":46161,"date":"2023-07-31T16:00:48","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.cancerresearchuk.org\/?p=26308"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:12:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:12:25","slug":"12-myths-about-sun-safety-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/12-myths-about-sun-safety-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"12 myths about sun safety debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Myth #9: Sunscreen lasts forever<\/h2>\n

Many of us will find an old bottle of sunscreen at the back of the cupboard and think \u201cI have no idea when I opened that\u201d. But most sunscreens expire. Look out for a small open jar icon on the bottle with the number of months the product can be used after opening. If it\u2019s out of date, it\u2019s best to buy a new one. Fear not though. You don\u2019t need to worry about the cost of replacing expensive sunscreens because when it comes to protection, price doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s the SPF and star rating that does.<\/p>\n

Like most cosmetics, sunscreens should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.<\/p>\n

Myth #10: The UV lamps used for gel nail manicures cause cancer<\/h2>\n

Although these lamps give out UV radiation, it is very unlikely that someone would develop skin cancer after using them, even if they did so on a regular basis. UV nail lamps give out far less radiation than people are exposed to when they are outside in the sun or using a sun bed, so the overall risk to your health remains low.<\/p>\n

Myth #11: The SPF in my makeup is enough<\/h2>\n

Sadly not. Even if your makeup label claims to offer sun protection, you\u2019d need to apply several times the normal amount of foundation to get even close to the level of protection stated on the label. You\u2019re also highly unlikely to reapply makeup regularly throughout the day, which is required to keep protected. So, if the weather means you need sunscreen on your face \u2013 sunscreen is the only thing that will do! Make-up or moisturiser with SPF won\u2019t be enough to protect you from harmful UV rays.<\/p>\n

Myth #12: You can\u2019t get sun damage through glass<\/h2>\n

Indoors you\u2019re mostly protected from sunburn (caused by UVB rays), but UVA rays which penetrate deeper into the skin can pass through glass. So if you spend lots of time doing something like driving or sitting in a conservatory when the sun is strong, then long-term you might be at risk of skin damage from UVA rays.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re stuck by the window, protect your skin with clothes, a hat and UV-protection sunglasses. In the UK, the star rating on sunscreen bottles indicates the level of UVA protection given by the product, so also make sure to pick a sunscreen with 4 or more stars. Or look for the letters \u2018UVA\u2019 in a circle if you can\u2019t see a star rating.<\/p>\n

\n

Now that we\u2019ve shared some common misconceptions, here are 3 simple steps we can all take to protect ourselves from strong sun, whether in the UK or abroad.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Seek Shade<\/strong> \u2013 Especially between 11am and 3pm in the UK. Take a break under trees, umbrellas and canopies, or go indoors.<\/li>\n
  2. Cover Up<\/strong> \u2013 With clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and UV protection sunglasses. Clothing should cover your shoulders. The more skin that\u2019s covered by your clothing, the better the protection.<\/li>\n
  3. Apply Sunscreen<\/strong> \u2013 With at least SPF15 and 4 or 5 stars. Make sure to reapply it regularly and generously, especially after swimming, sweating, or towelling.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Staying safe in the sun reduces your risk of skin cancer, but the truth is that nobody can get their risk down to zero. Cancer can affect anyone. So if you ever do spot anything on your skin or under your nails that is unusual for you, don\u2019t ignore it \u2013 talk to your doctor. They will want to hear from you. It\u2019s unlikely that it will be cancer, but if it is, spotting it at an earlier stage means treatment is more likely to be successful. It really can make a difference.<\/p>\n

    Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Myth #9: Sunscreen lasts forever Many of us will find an old bottle of sunscreen at the back of the cupboard and think \u201cI have no idea when I opened that\u201d. But most sunscreens expire. Look out for a small open jar icon on the bottle with the number of months the product can be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46161"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47175,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46161\/revisions\/47175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}