Milton Keynes residents are being urged to take proper care of skin and protection as the temperatures reach its highest level yet this year.
With many people finding time to bask in the summer sun as temperatures soar to its highest level predicted this year, a leading dermatologist is urging people to take proper care of their skin and protect themselves from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays which increase the risk of skin cancer.
Dr Hiva Fassihi, consultant and leading Dermatologist is on a mission to dispel false and inaccurate information around suncare and to make sure individuals take the precautions necessary.
Some of the biggest myths about suncare include:
- We only need to use sunscreen during the summer (22% agree, with men (26%) more likely than women (17%) to see it as seasonal)
- The sun/UV rays cannot damage your skin through a window (21% agree, rising to 34% among 25-34 year olds)
- You cannot get sunburnt within the first 30 minutes of being outside (19% – rising to 29% among Gen Z)
- More than a quarter (26%) wrongly believe that simply applying suncream means that you will not get burnt
However, some of the misconceptions, which can typically stem from parents, school and social media, could deter people from actively protecting themselves when exposed to the sun’s UVA rays, which activate the skin’s existing melanin, and UVB rays, which penetrate the surface layers of the skin and are the major contributor to sunburn, increasing the melanin production, which causes the delayed tanning effect following sunburn.
Reassuringly, 90% of people claim they know how protect themselves from the sun, and almost two in give (38%) have revealed that their attitude towards sun safety has changed in the last six months, according to research by La Roche-Posay.
But despite widespread understanding of the link between UV exposure and melanoma, third party research shows that knowledge is not translating into action. Melanoma UK predict that by 2040, cases will reach nearly half a million (466,914), an increase of 62%. [1].
Sunburn doesn’t just mean painful red skin. On average, a person's risks for melanoma doubles if they have had more than five sunburns. With an estimated 7 million people, either not knowing anything about suncare or not feeling sure about everything, Dr Hiva Fassihi is available to explain how we can still enjoy the good weather and protect our skin as well as bust any myths about what we should and should not be doing, not just when the weather is warm and sunny.
