how to take care of your skin in summer

Falmouth, Cornwall in the summer

The importance of Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

We are incredibly lucky down here in Cornwall to be blessed with beautiful beaches and stretches of ocean to enjoy once the sun shines. But it means that it is as important as ever to take care of our skin as to benefit it in both the long and short term! Sun protection factor (SPF) represents a sunscreens ability to protect against a specific portion of ultraviolet (UV) light called UVB. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer, definitely something we are all keen to avoid.

Why is it important to use SPF?

SPF protects the skin for a more extended period from exposure to the sin. Sunscreen helps control skin inflammation and it helps protect the skin from discolouration, leading to a smooth even skin tone.

It also improves skin health by protecting the elements of the skin like protein or collagen.

The SPF number tells you how long the suns UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen.

So ideally with SPF 50 it would take you 50 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.

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THE BENEFITS OF WEARING SPF

The benefits of using SPF are slower ageing, fewer lines and wrinkles, less or possibly no pigmentation or age spots, healthier skin and a reduced risk of skin cancer.

So sunscreen with an SPF of 50 means that when used on the skin it can protect the skin against the harmful effects of UVB rays for about 500 minutes and has the ability to block the penetration of UVB rays into the body.

Can you still sunbathe with SPF50?

The simple answer is yes, you can still tan using every SPF factor wether it is 15, 30 or 50+. You can still get out there and enjoy everything that Cornwall has to offer, but just do it with the reassurance that you’re also taking care of yourself.

SUN PROTECTION + TREATMENTS

By combing sun protection with regular skin treatments such as facials, microdermabrasion or derma planing, you will really start to see a difference in your skin long term AND short term.

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