Looking after your skin doesn’t just mean putting a great night-time skin care routine into practice. In fact, one of the most important things you should be doing is protecting your skin from sun damage by using a good quality sun cream. Not only does this protect the skin from premature ageing, but it can also help to prevent some of the more serious consequences of sun damage, such as melanoma and skin cancer.
The first line of defence is preparation so we’ve created a guide for you to use so you can find out what SPF you should be using as well as other things you can do to protect your skin based on your location in the UK.
Find your closest city or town to discover which SPF you should be using.
UV Score ...:
Recommended SPF: | Reapply:
Other Protections:
City | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
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If you’ve ever experienced sunburn, you’ll know just how uncomfortable it is, but just because the redness fades, it doesn’t mean the danger does. Without the proper protection, you put yourself at risk of long term damage such as hyperpigmentation, accelerated signs of ageing, and even diseases such as skin cancer.
This is why it is so important to use good sun protection, and to choose the right routine for your skin. No matter what your skin type, you should protect yourself from the sun, but if you are particularly fair, you may need to use a higher SPF and keep covered up or in the shade on days when the UV index is high.
When choosing your sun cream, make sure to check the UVA protection as well as the SPF, opting for a product with at least 4-star UVA protection. You should also choose a lip balm with SPF in order to protect the delicate and fragile skin on your lips. For full protection, choose a hair protector that moisturises and protects from harmful UV rays.
Once you have the right protection, make sure to use it right by reapplying after swimming, towel drying, or sweating. You should also reapply every two hours to make sure you are well protected, ensuring to apply liberally to any part of your skin that is exposed.
While these UV ratings are taken from averages, you can find up to date figures from the Met Office and use the following guide to determine your level of protection:
All UV index numbers were taken from Weather Atlas and Weather Online and act as averages for each month, though it should be noted that the UV rating can climb above these averages, so care should be taken, particularly during the summer months when the UV rating can be very high.
SPF information is taken from a range of sources in order to create a guide. These sources include:
https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/prevention/uv-index/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
https://www.who.int/uv/publications/en/UVIGuide.pdf
https://www.bad.org.uk/for-the-public/skin-cancer/sunscreen-fact-sheet
https://medium.com/lassondeschool/spf-explained-by-the-inventor-of-the-uv-index-dccf1d725e7c
The information provided here should not be used in place of medical advice and you should consult a doctor or medical professional if you are concerned about sun damage or the health of your skin.
If you have particularly fair skin or are prone to burning, you may need to take additional precautions in the sun.
