Here Comes Summer!!!!

Many people love the warm sun, and many have to work in it!
The sun’s rays make us feel good, and many people feel the sun makes them look good. However, exposure to sun causes most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces and is the number one cause of skin cancer.
In fact, sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of ageing. So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you’re young, it will definitely show later in life.
We all know that suncreams are designed to protect skin from UVA and UVB radiation, which may increase the risk of developing skin cancer, but manufacturers of sunscreen products are being urged to introduce simpler labelling after a survey revealed confusion about the dual protection ratings currently in use.
Current labelling has the SPF rating which the amount of protection offered against UVB, which is the main cause of sunburn. This can be anything from SPF8 to SPF50, so if you’re fair skinned like me you’ll probably grab the SPF30 or even 50.
However, not all of us understand or check, the protection factor against harmful UVA rays which is typically indicated by a separate star rating on a scale of 1 to 5.
Effectively you could have a high SPF cream which stops you from burning, but has only one star protection against UVA rays, which could result in serious skin issues and ill health in the future.
So, as you’re packing your 22kgs cases ready to jet off to sunnier climates, just take a second to check the star rating on your suncream especially if the kids are tagging along. And don’t forget to keep reapplying the cream throughout the day to provide on-going protection.
On that note, adios, au revoir, arrivederci, and have a great holiday.
By Mark Worsnop, Health & Safety Advisor