UV photos show moisturisers with SPF could put you ‘at risk of skin cancer’
Researchers found that nearly 17 per cent of the face is missed when using SPF moisturiser - especially the eyelids
MOST of us know how important it is to protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays.
But a new study has revealed that moisturisers with SPF could actually be putting you at risk of skin cancer.
Nearly 17 per cent of the face is missed when using SPF moisturiser - especially the eyelids, where the skin is thin and more vulnerable to cancer, a new study has revealed.
However, when using conventional sunscreen, just 11 per cent of the face is missed.
The research team at the University of Liverpool studied how 84 people, including 62 women and 22 men, put on moisturiser and sun cream.
They then took photos using a UV-sensitive camera to show how well they had covered their faces.
Eyelids most vulnerable
The study in the journal PLOS One found that there was a 21 per cent lower coverage of the area around the eyelids with moisturiser and 14 per cent with sun lotion.
Many moisturisers are sold with SPFs of 30 to 50, which is a similar level to traditional sunscreens.
But they are not intended to be a replacement for sunscreen if spending long periods of time outdoors in the summer.
The area around the eyelashes and between the eyelids and the nose is least likely to be covered
Austin McCormick
Austin McCormick, study author and consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon, from Aintree University Hospital Trust, said: "The eyelid skin is very thin and this puts it at risk of UV damage.
"The area around the eyelashes and between the eyelids and the nose is least likely to be covered."
Mr McCormick said that eyelid cancers accounted for 10 per cent of all basal cell carcinomas in the UK - the most common type of skin cancer.
He added that moisturiser may be used more sparingly because it is often expensive and sold in smaller amounts.
'SPF is better than nothing'
Mr McCormick said: "If planning prolonged sun exposure we advise sunscreen be used.
"If using moisturiser we advise one with SPF - any SPF is better than none but it should not be considered the equal of sunscreen."
The experts said that wearing sunglasses with UV filters could help protect the missed areas.
Dermatologists have also warned of the dangers of relying on foundations with SPF for sun protection.
Dr Sweta Rai, a spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists previously told The Sun Online: "Your foundation may have the right sunscreen in it, we recommend SPF 30 or above, but it may not be re-applicable.
"So you are going to have to remove it and reapply it otherwise you are going to look caked-up."
What is a basal cell carcinoma?
A basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer. There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. BCC is a non-melanoma skin cancer, and is the most common type (greater than 80%) of all skin cancer in the UK. BCCs are sometimes referred to as ‘rodent ulcers’.
The commonest cause is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or from sunbeds. BCCs can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on areas that are exposed to the sun such as your face, head, neck and ears. It is also possible for a BCC to develop in a longstanding scar. BCCs are not infectious.
BCCs mainly affect fair skinned adults, but other skin types are also at risk. Those with the highest risk of developing a basal cell carcinoma are:
- People with pale skin who burn easily and rarely tan (generally with light coloured or red hair, although some may have dark hair but still have fair skin).
- Those who have had a lot of exposure to the sun, such as people with outdoor hobbies or outdoor workers, and people who have lived in sunny climates.
- People who have used sun beds or have regularly sunbathed.
- People who have previously had a basal cell carcinoma.
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If that sounds like too much of a faff, you can get a product which works just as well as a sunscreen as it does a foundation.
"You can get tinted sunscreens which is like a halfway house between foundation and sunscreen," Dr Rai said.
"They are at the more expensive end of the market but they tend to give you a better look, particularly because some sunscreens can give you a white facial appearance.
"But these tinted ones blend into your skin type."
Any time your skin is exposed to harmful UV rays you are at risk of sun damage, which can lead to more serious conditions like skin cancer.
MORE ON SKIN CANCER
UV rays also age your skin increasing the likelihood of unsightly wrinkles.
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.
It occurs when damage is caused to the skin cells, most often by UV light from the sun or tanning beds.
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