Some people think wearing sunglasses, make-up or a hat can act as a sufficient barrier for sun, but Chartered Chemist and Founder of SOS Serum Skincare, Bruce Green, is urging people to make sure they wear SPF around their eye area.
He said: “Skin cancer is most common on the face and scalp – the thinnest area of skin on the body is our eyelids and can derive from a lack of UVA/UVB protection.
“We know that the eyes, particularly the under eye area, is prone to premature ageing as the skin is much thinner than on the rest of your face. It’s also more likely to become burnt, dehydrated and drier through sun exposure than other areas of the face if SPF is missed.”
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of eyelid cancer, said Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics www.Cosmedics.co.uk.
He explained: “It usually appears in the lower lid and occurs most often in individuals with fair or pale skin. The other type is Sebaceous carcinoma. Which mostly occurs in middle age to older adults, sebaceous carcinoma is the second most common eyelid cancer.”
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The eyes are sensitive and even a small amount of UV radiation can increase your risk of developing cataract or macular degeneration, warned Bruce.
Signs of sun damage to the eyes can consist of redness, watery eyes, blurred vision, twitchy eyelids, halos around lights, headaches and pain when blinking.
Bruce added: “Similar to sunburn on the skin, severe eye pain called photokeratitis can occur, an inflammatory response to the cornea, which is only reversible if the damage is mild.”
While SPF is important to wear every day, the type of suncream you apply can affect its effectiveness.
Bruce advised: “A good sunscreen will give protection against both UVA and UVB rays (Broad-Spectrum). The SPF value is only relevant and reflects a formulations’ ability to protect from UVB rays.
“UVA penetrates the skin more deeply and is associated with skin ageing and cancer hence it’s imperative to choose a sunscreen that is ‘broad spectrum’.
I recommend SOS SPF 50 Sun Cream from SOS Serum Skincare; s a mineral based broad-spectrum sun cream that delivers UVA and UVB protection to help prevent premature skin ageing.
“SOS SPF 50, is suitable for application on the face and body; it is a lightweight formulation designed with sensitivity in mind and is suitable for use around the eye area. It’s been tested according to the Boots star rating system, receiving a five star rating.”
Although it’s important to wear SPF every day, you should still seek shade where possible and avoid the sun at its hottest point of the day.
Bruce added: “Wearing long sleeved clothes, hats and sunglasses can add a layer of sun protection, but please don’t rely on this thinking you don’t need SPF.”
But no matter how good or effective your sun protection purchase is, it will only be as good as its application and re-application.
Bruce recommends applying to every two hours – if you’re doing lots of swimming and sweating then more frequently.
“But apply liberally and uniformly for the best protection possible,” he said.
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