EXPERT BLOGS: Soaring temperatures may be good news for those seeking out a day at the beach or glorious countryside but what tips should you follow to keep skin healthy after exposure to the sun?

We asked Borealis Natural Skincare’s in-house expert, Linda Horan for her opinion.

Question: How can you best protect your skin?

Linda says: “Try to avoid sun bathing or long periods of exposure between noon and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest. Choose a sun protection cream, lotion or oil suitable for your skin type and ensure it has not passed its sell by date as this may affect the preservative and active (sun factor) ingredients in the product. There is confusion around the protection SPF can give. As a general guideline, the differential between SPF 15 and SPF 50 is 5%.

Sunscreens help prevent the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin, age it prematurely, and increase your risk of skin cancer.

UVB damage results in sunburn, while UVA rays, penetrate the skin more deeply, and are associated with skin ageing (photo-ageing). They may also exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays, and increasingly are being seen as a cause of skin cancer, which is on the increase.

Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB so it’s essential you understand the star rating (UVA) and the SPF rating”.

SPF-15-30-50 Guide:

15- 1/15 of the UVB rays get through to your skin – blocking about 93%.

30- 1/30 of the UVB rays get through to your skin – blocking about 97%.

50- 1/50 of the UVB rays get through to your skin – blocking about 98%.

 So, if you wear no sun protection, it takes 20 minutes for skin to start turning red.

If you use an SPF 15 sunscreen, it theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – around five hours”.

Question: What are the active ingredients used in SPF lotions & potions?

Linda says: “It varies depending on whether the product uses a natural SPF such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide:

UVA-protecting sunscreen ingredients to look out for:

• titanium dioxide

• zinc oxide

• avobenzone

• mexoryl SX

Question: How should you prepare your skin for a summer holiday?

Linda says: “Exfoliate using a great body scrub, (such as our Anti-Cellulite Body Srub which contains dead sea salt, £18.50), moisturise lots and a good deep tissue massage always helps to detox and get the circulation moving”

Question: Which sun protection products are best?

Linda says: “Check out your local chemist or online for samples. Always patch test to ensure you aren’t allergic to the ingredients, especially the preservatives. There are many on the market and nowadays, more natural and organic ranges also”.

Question: Which foods are good for your skin when it has been exposed to the sun?

Linda says: “Red and orange fruit & vegetables are packed with carotenoids, which may help to reduce sunburn intensity. So, carrots, beetroot, peppers, oranges etc, all have beneficial qualities as well as tasting great and hydrating you.

Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may reduce damage caused by UVA light. Omega 3 fatty acids contained in salmon and other types of fish, nuts, such as walnuts and oils guard against sunburn and cell damage.

Question: How can you help your skin recover from sunburn?

Linda says: “It depends on the severity. If you feel severe dehydration, nausea and severe blistering, you need medical help. Often the effects of sunburn aren’t felt until 5 -6 hours after exposure. Cool the skin down with a cool flannel, ideally the cool water should have a couple of drops of pure lavender in to help reduce inflation, cool skin and help with itching. Calamine lotion also helps to reduce itching and the irritation that accompanies it. Pure aloa vera (not perfumed) hydrates and cools and nourishes the skin. Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen help reduce inflammation. Stay out of the sun until the blistering has healed and no other symptoms remain”.

Question: How can you help your skin recover from long-term sun damage?

Linda says: “Keep covered in the sun. Wear a sun screen every day, including the winter months. If you have sun damage on the face and neck area wear at least a broad spectrum SPF 25 daily. Exfoliate gently. Some people opt for ‘chemical peels’ to remove the layer of skin cells including top layer of brown spots. Glycolic acid is an active ingredient that removes several layers of dead cells. Other treatments include Botulinum toxin type A, dermabrasion, intense pulsed light therapy. Generally these would only be available privately”.

A natural approach would be to use natural exfoliators such as jojoba beads and ground apricot kernel. Face oils will help as they tend to be omega rich in oils so nourish and protect the skin whilst you sleep if used at night when the skin is not exposed to UV light and environmental pollutants. Superfoods are just as important to feed your skin from the inside so Omega 3, 6 & 9 oils, lots of fruit, vegetables, lean protein all help to restore the radiance to skin. Supplements may help depending on age and overall health and eating habits.

Question: How does your skincare regime differ throughout the different seasons?

Linda says: “During the winter months I still use a broad spectrum SPF moisturiser but I would use a night moisturiser particularly if my skin is very dry from central heating, wind etc. Also get some natural sunlight as it is easy to miss out on Vitamin D and sunlight in winter, which helps give a glow and improve skin condition”.

With kind thanks to: Borealis Natural Skincare’s in-house expert, Linda Horan