SUNSHINE........

Hello Ladies

I hope you have all been enjoying these past few days of sunshine and warmth ,  a hint of things to come , fingers crossed. So what is the first thing most of us are going to do when it gets really warm??  Yes , try and get a tan !!!!

So here are some facts that might make you think twice about what you do with your body in the sun...

1. MYTH: Having a tan is fine, as long as I don't overdo the sunbathing and burn.
    FACT: After skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces more melanin in order to help absorb further
                 UV radiation, and skin becomes darker as a result. So a tan is actually a sign that the skin
                 has been damaged and is trying to protect itself.
                 The safest way to get a summer glow is to fake it!!!!

2. MYTH: Wearing a low SPF on my body and a high SPF on my face is ok.
    FACT:   Skin is skin, and you should take care of the skin on your body just as much as your face.
                   You should be using a minimum of SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen on your body and
                   to guard against burning and reduce the risk of premature ageing. If you have fair skin
                   use an SPF 50.

3. MYTH: Wearing an SPF 15 will keep me protected from the sun 15 times longer than using
                   nothing on my skin.
    FACT:   Technically , this is true. However , as there are so many variables - from the differing
                   strength of the sun , to the amount of sunscreen you apply and the various skin types of
                   different users , it is better to get into the habit of reapplying every 90 minutes to two
                   to guarantee you stay safe in the sun throughout the day.

4. MYTH: The SPF in my make-up will be protection enough for my face.
    FACT:   It won't. Research has shown that we only apply about a sixth of the foundation we would
                  need to give us the level of protection promised by its sun-protection rating. After all, we
                  apply foundation and powder for aesthetic reasons , not to provide protection! So , unless
                  you're happy to apply 6 teaspoons of foundation and reapply it during the day, the only
                  to stay protected is to wear a layer of sunscreen under your make-up.

5. MYTH: The sun damages your hair just as much as it does your skin.
    FACT:   Sun dries hair out , making it brittle , but ultimately we replace our hair with new growth ,
                  so it doesn't have quite the same damaging effects as it does on our skin. To limit the sun's
                  drying effect on the hair , apply a mask through the ends and pull into a bun before hitting
                  the beach.

So what does all this UV, UVA and UVB etc mean ??????

UV = ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
           This invisible radiation produced by the sun is made up of three wavelengths: UVA, UVB and
            UVC.

UVA = ULTRAVIOLET A RADIATION
             UVA rays have a longer wavelength and penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays. They
             are responsible for premature ageing of the skin.

UVB = ULTRAVIOLET  B RADIATION
             These medium wavelength rays are responsible for sunburn. They damage DNA and are
              considered to be the main cause of melanoma.