Summertime: Error

Posted on July 13, 2016

Admittedly the track record for British summertime isn’t the best. We are all eagerly awaiting the sunshine to make an appearance, we could be waiting a while! However if you’re home or away when you are exposed to the sun, ensure you follow our tips to protect yourself.

Spend time in the shade if your shadow is shorter than you.

If your shadow is shorter than you are, then the sun is strong. During the UK summer, the sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm.

Wear a hat, T-shirt and sunglasses, when the sun is strong.

Wide brimmed hats or foreign legion style caps are best. A wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved top or maxi dress will not only help protect your skin, but are also the height of summer style!

Cancer Research UK recommends you use at least a factor 15 sunscreen with a high star rating.

Sunscreen rubs off easily if you sweat, swim or change clothes. So whether you’re in the UK or abroad, when the sun is strong remember to apply generously and reapply regularly.

Also remember:

Don’t get caught out at home

The sun can be strong in the UK as well as abroad, so it’s not just when you’re on holiday that you need to think about protecting your skin in the sun. And you don’t need to be sunbathing to get sunburn; plenty of people get sunburn when out and about playing sport, shopping or gardening.

Bring a bottle

Keep a handy-sized bottle of sunscreen in your handbag (Cancer Research UK recommends at least SPF15+) so that you’ll always have some to hand for parts of the body you can’t cover up with clothes. That way you won’t get caught out on days when you’re out and about and the sun is strong. Make sure you reapply regularly and use a generous amount

Protect your kids

Young skin is delicate and easily burnt. Make sure your children are wearing t-shirts and wide-brimmed hats when out in strong sun and cover any exposed areas with sunscreen.  It’s a good idea to encourage them to have breaks in the shade for a game or a cool drink, particularly between 11am and 3pm (in the UK summer) when the sun is usually strongest. If you’re using a buggy, attaching a parasol is a useful way of keeping your children cool and protected from strong sun.