How much sunscreen do you REALLY need? Simple coin trick reveals all…
ARE you sporting your best red lobster look after the Bank Holiday weekend?
It's not a true British summer if there aren't blustery beaches, Pimms and some painful looking sunburn.
Yet it seems, despite frequent warnings about the risk of skin cancer, we still aren't using enough sunscreen.
So, how much should you be using? And is the SPF (sun protection factor) you've chosen the right choice?
Most people tend to apply less than half of the recommended amount on the bottle, according to the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).
Areas like the back and sides of the neck, temples and ears are often missed, so you need to apply it generously and be careful not to miss patches.
You should be applying around six full teaspoons to your entire body, according to the association.
That's because manufacturers use that amount when testing their products SPF - so using any less will reduce the amount of protection you get.
The overall message when it comes to sunscreen is that "more is better", and don't forget to reapply after four hours or time spent in the water.
When it comes to SPF, the minimum you need is 30 to protect yourself from the sun and you should be wearing it all year round.
How much sunscreen your body needs
It can be confusing working how how much sunscreen is needed for each part of your body, but Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist at the Tarrant Street Clinic in West Sussex, has a handy coin trick to help you get it right.
"To truly get the SPF on the bottle we need to apply 2mg of cream for each square centimetre of skin, as this is what they apply in lab tests," she told the
"However, this is a very thick layer, and on average we apply less than half of this. So the actual applied SPF will be half of the intended. Always start high with SPF— or go for double what you think you need."
Back
The back is the most common area where melanoma develops in men.
Plus, it's a difficult to reach area so it's easy to miss a bit.
You should be using two 50p-sized blobs of sunscreen for your whole back.
Stomach
This area doesn't usually see sunlight, so it's more susceptible to getting burnt.
A 10p-sized blob of sunscreen will give you ideal coverage.
But don't forget to top up regularly, especially if you plan to be in the sun all day.
Chest
You actually need just as much sunscreen as your entire back for this area.
That's because your chest area is exposed to sunlight far more often.
Use a 50p blob to cover this area.
Shoulders
Your shoulders are often one of the first areas to burn, so it's important they are protected.
You need two 10p blobs, one for each shoulder, to make sure you are properly shielded from the sun.
It's also a good idea to wear a light shirt that covers your shoulders if you will be in the sun all day.
Arms
This is the most common site for melanoma in both men and women.
You need a 10p blob of sunscreen for each upper and lower arm - that's four 10p-sized blobs all together.
Again, if you are out in the sun all day you need to top up regularly and wear protective clothes.
A PHARMACIST'S TOP TEN TIPS FOR SUN PROTECTION
MAKING sure you are wearing the right amount of sunscreen will protect your from the lobster look and skin cancer
Lloyds Pharmacy pharmacist Michael Wong gives his top tips on staying sun smart:
- Reapply sun cream a minimum of every two hours and make sure you always reapply after swimming, exercise, sweating and towelling
- If you have moles or freckles, make sure you wear a minimum SPF30
- Wear water resistant sunscreen while swimming and don’t forget to apply sun protection under your swim wear as the garments can move around
- Use a golf-ball sized (or six teaspoons) amount of sun cream to cover your entire body
- People tend to burn their nose more than any other body part, so don’t forget to apply sun cream there, as well as to the tops of your ears and the delicate skin on your lips
- Seek shade wherever possible especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest
- Wear protective loose fitting clothing and a sun hat
- Don’t forget to protect your eyes, choose sunglasses that protect your eyes against UV rays
- Drink plenty of water, dehydrated skin is more prone to sun damage
- If you have a history of sun damage or skin cancer you should always wear the highest sun protection and seek shade whenever possible
Legs
Your legs are often forgotten when it comes to sun protection, or you deliberately leave them out to get a tan.
Legs are the most common site for melanoma in women, so you should never skip them.
Use a 10 coin worth of sunscreen for each upper and lower leg, four 10p coins in total.
How much sunscreen your face needs
You almost certainly aren't using enough sunscreen on your face.
After all, it's constantly exposed to the sun so it needs a lot of protection.
Nose
How often do you see people with severely sun burnt noses, or perhaps it's always you.
As it sticks out of of your face it tends to get burnt quicker, plus we tend to rub sunscreen off our noses more than other areas.
You need a 5p-sized blob for your nose alone.
Forehead and neck
The forehead is often forgotten as you rub sunscreen into your cheeks.
So is the back of the neck, which results in quite a few melanomas being found in this area.
Use a 10p-sized blob to cover these areas.
Don't forget the hairline either as your scalp will get burnt if you don't wear a hat.
MORE ON SKIN CANCER
Face and ears
The rest of your face needs a 10p-sized blob of sunscreen as well - and don't forget to cover your ears too.
You may think you are OK because your face cream or foundation has an SPF factor, but it's almost never enough.
Instead there are plenty of tinted sunscreens on the market that will give you a nice finish as well as sun protection.
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