The parts of the body you should always apply sun cream to… but probably don’t
THE heatwave has us all reaching for the high factor sun cream to protect our skin.
But there’s a few spots we always tend to neglect – would you know which are the key areas to catch?
Where are we forgetting to put suncream?
While we cream up our faces, arms, legs and backs before soaking up the sun most of us forget certain spots.
Your lips are even more susceptible to sun damage than the rest of your face – and neglecting them could cause ageing, chapped lips and even skin cancer.
Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, told : “The skin on your lips is significantly thinner than the skin on the rest of your body, meaning that it is more susceptible to damage caused by UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun.”
Another area that often gets forgotten is your feet – top and bottom.
They will be especially sensitive as they spend much of the year in shoes and socks, so always remember to cover them in cream too.
Your scalp is also always in need of suncream – people with short or thinning hair must wear a hat or keep themselves creamed up.
If you have long hair its always important to remember your parting, otherwise you’ll be left with an angry red line.
What damage could the sun do?
Too much exposure to UVA causes premature ageing and wrinkles, and the UVB rays can damage the superficial layers of your skin.
Dr Mahto added: “Just like with the rest of your body, not applying SPF regularly means you are more susceptible to skin cancer or other serious skin conditions.
“It also makes the area more vulnerable to premature ageing due to damage from UVA rays, which can lead to a decrease in collagen levels, causing lips to wrinkle and fine lines to form around the mouth.”
Keep an eye on your moles...
The sun’s rays can cause skin cancer if we don’t properly protect ourselves.
Moles can often show the first sign that damage has been done so it’s vital to keep an eye on them.
Moles form when pigment-producing cells in the skin grow in a cluster. Most moles are flat, but sometimes they can be raised, and can range from pink, brown to black.
UV light from the sun or using sunbeds can change the structure of a mole and increase the chance of it becoming cancerous.
has gathered a handy list of what to look out for when chcking your moles:
- Is the mole symmetrical? Look out for changes in pigment, texture or shape from one half of the mole to the other.
- A non-cancerous mole will usually have smooth, even borders, and you can see clearly where the mole ends and normal skin begins. You should look out for uneven formations and rough edges or lack of clarity between the edge of the mole and the skin that surrounds it.
- Most non-cancerous moles are a single shade of brown, so if a mole is showing a number of colours this could be a warning sign.
- Melanomas are usually larger than 6 mm. If a mole is bigger than this you may want to consider having it checked out.
- Non-cancerous moles don’t usually change shape or appearance, so if one of your moles is starting to evolve you should definitely book to seek your GP. Also, be aware of any new symptoms such as bleeding, itching or crusting.
Other parts of the body that are frequently missed when we apply SPF also include the ears and the eyelids.
Both can suffer severe sun damage if not protected.
If you’ve overdone the sun, check out our home remedies for sunburn – including yoghurt and green tea.
