Latest news with #UVProtection
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Sunny weather: Do more expensive sunglasses give more protection?
We all know how the sun can age our skin, but experts warn it can also damage our or UV, light can lead to a number of conditions that can affect vision, such as cataracts. Our eyes can even get avoid eye damage, optometrists say we need to properly protect our eyes when out in the sun, but the good news is that we do not need expensive sunglasses for the protection we need. Dr Malgorzata Rozanoswka, from Cardiff University's School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, said adequate protection was required, including "proper sunglasses", sun cream with high sun protection factor (SPF) and wide brimmed hats."When you are on the beach, there is the reflection of the UV from water, from sand. It could be quite high," she added people hiking or climbing mountains needed more protection because "the higher the altitude, then the higher UV". How can UV damage our eyes? Starting outside the eye, our eyelids are at risk from exposure to the sun, because they are not somewhere we often think about applying skin is also susceptible to UV-associated cancers, much like the rest of our body, including melanoma. Inside our eyes, short-term exposure to UV can lead to photokeratitis, which is like sunburn that affects the cornea, rather than the skin. This painful condition is also known as "snow blindness" and can affect skiers and climbers who spend time at high altitude.A lack of protecting our eyes throughout our lifetime can also lead to deteriorating eyesight, increasing the risk of conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Dr Rozanowska said increased exposure to sunlight could increase the risk of the retina aging prematurely, as well as other parts of the eye."So there is a very well-established association of UV and cataracts, and those cancers of the surface of the eye," she said. "Honestly, just ones that fit my head, because I've got such a small head. But obviously also to protect from UV," said Hattie from Cardiff, speaking from the city's Bute friend Immy, from Buckinghamshire, added: "For me, it's more like fashion. I don't really think about protection."Searching for the right pair of sunglasses requires some some shops you will notice labels with categories from 0 to 4, referring to how dark the lenses are. Category 0 sunglasses let a lot of sunlight through, while category 4 are best for activities in more intense sunshine, such as skiing or hiking in mountains. Category 4 sunglasses block so much visible light that they are not considered safe to drive darker sunglasses do not mean better UV protection, and you cannot tell by looking at the colour of the lenses how much UV protection is offered. Dr Rozanowska recommended looking at the certificate on the frame to see whether sunglasses block UV best to look for is UV400, which blocks 99% of all UV, she said."When buying sunglasses, it's worth getting them from reputable sources and look for those certificates on the frame."Good sunglasses also do not have to cost a lot of money, with some cheaper sunglasses offering as much protection as expensive ones."The lenses are probably made from the same material as the very expensive designer sunglasses, as long as they have the certificate CE or UV 400," Dr Rozanowska those fake designer sunglasses we are tempted to buy from a market stall on holiday may look like a bargain, but they may be offering no protection at all from the sun."Even though they have very dark lenses, they can transmit a lot of UV light and wearing this type of sunglasses with dark lenses, this would make your pupils dilate and more of that UV light would be transmitted to the lens," she sunglasses with no UV protection can actually cause more harm to our eyes. Another thing to consider is that not all sunglasses offer good protection at the side of our eyes - a narrow arm can still allow for UV light to reach our eyes, resulting in eye typically spend a lot of time playing outdoors and their eyes can be more vulnerable to UV damage than adults, said Dr said lenses offered almost no protection from UV, so it was not necessary to force a child to wear sunglasses, instead creating shady areas for play. "So if you are playing on the grass surrounded by trees, there is enough shadow. That reflection from the grass is like 2%, it's almost nothing."It is important for children to play outside without any eye protection. It prevents the development of myopia or short-sightedness."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Major skin cancer warning slapped on popular sunscreen: 'It doesn't do what it says', study finds
A major report has warned that a popular sunscreen does not work, potentially leaving consumers at risk of skin cancer. Consumer champion Which? safety tested 15 sun creams from Boots, Garnier and Nivea, as well as own-brand alternatives, and saw surprising results. While a £2.99 supermarket-own sun protectant passed the stringent testing process, a £28 branded favourite failed to reach industry standards. As a result, the consumer body warned, users may not be adequately protected from the sun's UV rays, putting them at risk of deadly cancer. Ultrasun Family SPF30, sold by some of the biggest UK high street retailers and costing £28, markets itself as being 'perfect for the whole family' and 'especially suitable for children with sensitive skin'. But the cream failed two separate tests that measured both its sun protection factor—or SPF—and ultraviolet (UV) protection. To trial the creams, scientists applied a small amount on volunteers' backs, before shining a lamp on the patch to simulate the sun's rays. The time it takes for the skin to become red was then measured. Ultrasun Family SPF30 (left), sold by some of the biggest UK high street retailers, markets itself as being 'perfect for the whole family' and 'especially suitable for children with sensitive skin'. Another sunscreen that made it onto the Don't Buy list was Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 - £3.75 per bottle In another test, scientists took a sample of the cream and spread it onto a glass plate to measure the absorption of UV radiation directly. To pass, the sunscreen needed to provide at least one third of the claimed SPF. SPF is measurement of the length of time you can be in the sun before you get burnt. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will take 30 times longer to damage your skin compared to no protection at all. If a product failed to demonstrate the level of SPF it claimed to have on its first test, Which? repeated the test. If it passed the second time around, a third test was done. Any product that failed either test twice overall, was labelled a 'Don't Buy' by Which?. Natalie Hitchins, Which?'s head of home products and services, warned shoppers to look out for these products, as they are not guaranteed to protect as expected. 'It's really concerning that widely available sunscreens could be putting families at risk by failing to offer the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging,' she said. 'Our results prove that there's no need to splash out to keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun as we've found other cheap and reliable options.' A spokesperson from Ultrasun told Which? that the brand was fully confident in its testing protocols and that these not only met, but surpass industry standards. Another sunscreen that made it on to this year's Don't Buy list was Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30, priced £3.75 per bottle. Morrisons says it's looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing. Sunscreens that did pass Which?'s test included Aldi's Lacura Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+, which costs just £2.99. At just £1.50 per 100ml, it also earned a Which? Great Value badge. Lidl's Cien Sun Spray 30SPF High (£3.79) Boot's Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Spray SPF30 (£5.50) Nivea's Sun Protect and Moisture Lotion SPF30 (£7.90) and Sainsbury's Sun Protect Moisturising Lotion SPF30 (£5.50) all also passed the safety tests. The damning report comes days after Kelsey Parker, 34, came under fire for admitting she doesn't put sunscreen on her children. The podcast host, who is currently expecting her third child with tree surgeon Will Lindsay, claimed daughter Aurelia, five, and son Bodhi, four, 'don't burn' and that it 'causes skin cancer'. The children's father, The Wanted star Tom Parker, tragically died from brain cancer in 2022. Speaking in the latest episode of her Mum's The Word! podcast about 'the secret world of parenting', Ms Parker confessed that she opts to keep her children out of the sun rather than using SPF to protect them. She added that she makes 'organic' sunscreen out of beeswax for UV protection instead. 'It's bad for you–that sunscreen,' she said. 'My kids do not wear sun cream.' 'The only thing that I may put on them is an organic sun cream. 'My kids, we went on holiday, I never put sun cream on them and they do not burn. 'I never used to wear sun cream, sun cream causes skin cancer'. Since making the controversial remarks, the expectant mother has been blasted by listeners, who have accused her of spreading 'dangerous misinformation. One listener wrote on social media: 'This is really dangerous spreading this information. Please research.' 'This is insane and so unsafe. It's so damaging, burning doesn't indicate sun damage, it can literally kill them. Wow,' a second said. A third slammed the 'dangerous advice', while a fourth called the dismissal of conventional sun cream 'irresponsible'. Experts say there is no evidence that sunscreen causes cancer in humans. Dr Bav Shergill a consultant dermatologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital, London and spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists, previously told MailOnline: 'Sunscreens are a safe and effective way to protect your skin from burning and other forms of sun damage. 'Millions of people have used sunscreen over many decades so we can be confident about their safety profile.' Studies have long shown sun creams can contain both mineral and chemical UV filters. Mineral UV filters mainly remain on the skin's surface and form a physical barrier to deflect UV rays before they penetrate your skin. Chemical UV filters, meanwhile, absorb UV light and convert it into heat energy. As well as being used in sun creams, they may be added to other personal care products, such as moisturisers. Some research on animals, mainly mice, has indicated many commonly used chemical UV filters in high quantities could be endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — chemicals that interfere with hormones — such as mimicking natural oestrogen found in our bodies. Lifetime exposure to oestrogen is an established risk factor for cancers, including breast. But no research on humans has backed this up. Going without sunscreen, meanwhile, has been shown to directly raise the risk of developing skin cancer. Around 15,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year—the UK's fifth most common cancer—with the incidence rate rising faster than any other common cancer. A recent study from Cancer Research UK warned found that an alarming 87 per cent of melanoma cases, the equivalent of 17,100 in the UK each year, are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, either directly from the sun or sun beds—meaning they could be avoided. This is because increased UV exposure can damage the DNA in skin cells, triggering mutations that become cancerous. From here, the cancer can spread to the blood vessels beneath the skin, getting into the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. Last year, rates of the cancer reached a record high in the UK, with new diagnoses increasing by almost a third in just a decade, according to the charity. According to the NHS website, people should apply suncream to avoid burning and use 'at least factor 30'. 'Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy,' the site reads. The health service also recommends avoiding the sun when it is at its strongest, between the hours of 11am and 3pm from March to November, and to cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses.
CNET
02-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
7 Easy Habits That Will Support Your Eye Health This Summer
Your skin isn't the only part of your body that needs to be protected from the sun's UV rays. The same goes for your eyes, especially during the summer months. The World Health Organization reports that 15 million people worldwide are blind from cataracts, and for up to 10% of these people, the cause of their condition may have been exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Fortunately, there are simple habits you can adopt that will keep your eyes healthy and happy as the summer sun beams down. How to protect your eyes from the sun There are plenty of ways to protect your eyes in the heat, from wearing sunglasses to following a balanced diet. Here are some science-backed tips for summer eye care. Wear sunglasses One of the easiest -- and most stylish -- ways to take care of your eyes is by wearing sunglasses during the day. When your eyes aren't protected from the sun, they're exposed to multiple types of UV rays, which can increase your risk of certain diseases, including photokeratitis and cataracts. Westend61/Getty Images Consider polarized lenses: Polarized lenses are designed with a special chemical that filters more light than other sunglasses. They also reduce glare from reflective surfaces, like water and snow, so they're a good option if you spend a lot of time outside. Choose the right lens color: While it may seem like darker lenses would provide more protection from UV rays, the opposite is true. Extremely dark lenses force your pupils to open wider, allowing more sunlight into your eyes. Instead of dark lenses, opt for gray or smoke-colored lenses to get the most sun protection. Keep your eyes hydrated During summer, your eyes can dry out quickly, particularly if you live in a dry climate, sit in air-conditioned spaces regularly or spend lots of time in swimming pools. Dehydrated eyes can have uncomfortable consequences, causing burning, irritation and light sensitivity, which may get worse if you wear contact lenses. Avoid alcohol: Drinking alcohol can also dry out your eyes, so reducing your booze intake may help keep your eyes more lubricated and stave off dehydration. Use eye drops if your eyes are dry: If you have a moderate case of dry eyes, you may find some relief from over-the-counter eye drops. But if the irritation continues, talk to your doctor about getting prescription-strength drops. Read more: Best Nonalcoholic Drinks Eat a balanced diet Following a nutritious diet can also benefit eye health. Specifically, you'll want to aim for a well-balanced meal plan that includes a variety of antioxidant-rich foods. For example, vitamin C may help lower your risk of developing cataracts. Good sources of this vitamin include raw bell peppers, oranges and carrots. Similarly, vitamin E protects your eyes from free radicals, which can damage and break down the tissue in your eyes. You can find vitamin E in seeds, nuts and sweet potatoes. Finally, vitamin A also supports proper eye function and is found in foods like leafy greens and orange vegetables. In contrast, there are also foods that aren't great for your eye health. Sugary drinks and fried foods, for instance, can raise your risk of diabetes and, later, diabetic retinopathy. Limit screen time Staring at a laptop or phone screen for too long can irritate your eyes and lead to eye strain. Common symptoms of eye strain include headaches, light sensitivity, itchy eyes and blurred vision. However, depending on your job, avoiding screen time may not be realistic. However, there are some eye care tactics you can use to limit the effect that digital screens have on your eyes. Notably, the American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20-20 rule while you're using electronic screens. This means taking a 20-second break from all screens at least once every 20 minutes to look at an object that's 20 feet away. Other strategies to protect your eyes from digital screens include lowering the brightness on your devices, switching to dark mode and wearing blue-light-blocking glasses, though research is iffy on these glasses for eye health. JoseAvoid looking directly at the sun Staring at the sun for too long isn't just uncomfortable -- it can cause serious, and sometimes permanent, damage to your eyes. When the sun's UV rays enter your eyes, they can form free radicals and harm your retinas, potentially causing a condition known as solar or photic retinopathy. Milder symptoms of solar retinopathy can range from watery eyes to eye discomfort to headache. If your case is more severe, you may experience blurred vision or blind spots. For some people, these effects are irreversible. If you've noticed that your vision has worsened after viewing an eclipse or looking at the sun, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Protect your eyes while outside or playing sports Aside from wearing sunglasses, there are other effective ways to protect your eyes while you're spending time outside. For example, if you're gardening or hiking, you can wear a wide-brimmed hat or visor to keep your eyes covered. If you're headed to the beach or pool, grab a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the water, salt and chlorine and ward off swimmers' eye. Similarly, if you're playing sports, make sure to put on protective glasses to lower your risk of eye injury. No matter what you're doing, you should also wear sunscreen on your face to prevent burns on your eyelids or the sensitive skin around your eyes. Get quality sleep If you've ever woken up from a poor night's sleep with dry and itchy eyes, you've experienced how a lack of quality sleep can impact your eye health, and science backs that up. In one study, researchers found a correlation between low-quality sleep and dry eye disease, noting that subpar sleep quality can aggravate the effects of DED. Read more: Poor Sleep? Try These Easy Tricks When you're tired, you're also more likely to rub your eyes, which could lead to eye damage or an infection. Separately, not getting enough sleep has been linked to other irritating but nonserious health issues, including myokymia (eye twitching), bloodshot eyes and puffiness and under-eye bags.
The National
27-05-2025
- Health
- The National
SPF myths and the science behind UV radiation: How to care for your skin as temperatures rise
As temperatures rise across the UAE, with the country experiencing a record 51.6°C – the highest temperature in the month of May – skincare should be top of mind, experts say. But beware of marketing gimmicks and misleading claims. "The phrase 'high SPF' sounds reassuring, it's true, but the sense of security you feel is false," German skincare expert Dr Barbara Sturm says. "SPF is a misleading and therefore dangerous term; a product with this factor only refers to protection against UVB rays, which is not quite enough." The science behind UV radiation The sun transmits ultraviolet radiation in three wavelengths – the creatively dubbed UVA, UVB and UVC rays. The latter does not penetrate our planet's atmosphere, so it's irrelevant to the case being put forth here. UVB is most responsible for sunburn which, by extension, causes malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (what Hugh Jackman suffered from), while UVA is associated with skin ageing. However, because not everyone is aware of UVA's role, and not all sunscreens have the wherewithal to help shield us from it, prolonged exposure not only leads to wrinkles, pigmentation and coarse skin, but can also cause skin cancer. What Sturm and other experts now know is that a product with solar protection factor (SPF) has no impact whatsoever in protecting our skin from UVA rays. That's not to say that you should ditch that SPF 30 offering completely; rather, as with most other things these days, you need to read the small print when buying your next sunscreen. And it's not only for those who are constantly out and about, either. 'UVA can penetrate glass, so it can get you in a windowed office or while you're driving,' explains Sturm. 'It is imperative to use a sunscreen technology that offers 'broad-spectrum' protection.' A broad-spectrum solution targets both UVA and UVB rays. The latter can be monitored based on the SPF count – between 30 and 50 is recommended depending on your lifestyle – think commuting to the office versus spending time at the beach. The former is trickier, and requires a bit of calculation. Step one is to look out for the UVA star rating on a product's packaging; stars range from 0 to 5. This number indicates the percentage of UVA radiation absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to UVB. "In other words, this is the ratio between the level of protection afforded by the UVA protection and the UVB protection," states a report released by the British Association of Dermatologists. "Be aware that if you choose a low SPF, it may still have a high level of stars, not because it is providing a lot of UVA protection, but because the ratio between the UVA and UVB protection is about the same. That's why it's important to choose a high SPF as well as a high number of stars." In simpler terms, a sunscreen with SPF 30 and a UVA rating of four stars should fit the bill. Unless you spend your daylight hours out in the desert or at the beach. In that case, not only should you invest in SPF 50 and five stars, but also be very conscientious about application and reapplication. Application tips The recommended amount of sunscreen works out to about two milligrams per square centimetre of your skin's surface. For optimum protection to the face, the amount needed would cover the palm of your hand. "Most people are quite good at slathering products on their faces, but tend to miss the neck and ear area, which then become prone to carcinogenic nodules," says dermatologist Anita Hiranandani. "And even if you're wearing a pair of shorts or a top with sleeves, it's best to use sunscreen all over the body, not just on the exposed bits." Apply the product 20 minutes before you step out, so it has adequate time to create a barrier shield, and reapply every two hours if you're under the sun for that long. "If you are outside a lot, it is critical, especially in a strong-sun location like the UAE, to reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly, particularly after sweating or swimming," says Sturm. 'Even certain fabrics can diminish the impact the cream has on the skin. It also depends on what time of the day you are outside – the sun is 150 times stronger at noon than in the morning or evening,' she adds. She's not a fan of moisturisers or make-up that claim to double up as sunscreen. 'Active UV filters and active skincare ingredients sitting in a product together degrade the effectiveness of both. I would always use sunscreen separately. It is safer to apply the skincare first, wait a few minutes for absorption, and then apply make-up. This way you have the full protective effect, without the mineral oils of the cosmetics to clog your pores, and you don't smudge your make-up,' she explains. Even the most effective sunscreen, however, is unlikely to offer full protection under the direct glare of the sun. It needs to be complemented by clothing, sunglasses, caps and umbrellas. Dr Lanalle Dunn, founder of Jumeirah's Chiron Clinic, suggests rash-guard apparel, which blocks UV rays. She adds: "Stay away from chemically laden sunscreens – those that include parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate and titanium dioxide." Sunscreen pollution Sunscreen pollution is another reason to avoid strong chemicals. Many activists are now pushing to ban products made up of marine-life-harming oxybenzone and octinoxate. According to Lisa Bishop, president of the Friends of Hanauma Bay organisation: "When people put these two chemicals on and they come into the ocean, the product washes off and stays floating in the water, and the corals are being killed by it." Some eco-friendly brands that come highly recommended include Colorescience, NYDG Skincare, La Roche-Posay, Dr Hauschka and Molecular Cosmetics, which carries photostable Sun Drops. To tan or not to tan Both types of UV radiation contribute to skin tanning, a condition actively and, research would suggest, insensibly sought out by hordes of people. A tan by any other name is damaged skin, according to the report by the British Association of Dermatologists. The skin is made up of a pigment called melanin, which gives our skin its natural colour. Exposure to sunlight causes an increase in the production of melanin that absorbs more UV radiation, causing the skin to become darker, usually temporarily. 'A tan is actually a sign that the skin has been damaged and is trying to protect itself,' suggests the report. 'This is not to say that one should avoid the sun completely,' cautions Dunn. 'Research shows that non- smokers who avoided the sun had a life expectancy similar to smokers in the highest sun exposure group, indicating that avoidance is a risk factor for death of a similar magnitude as smoking. The cardioprotective benefits of sun exposure are partly due to nitric oxide, which aids in lowering blood pressure. Nitric oxide is only released into the bloodstream with direct sunlight exposure and not with simply taking Vitamin D supplementation.' Tanned or otherwise damaged skin can be treated by getting skin treatments such as hydrating facials, radiofrequency to tighten the skin, photodynamic therapy and fractional laser treatments. However, these should be looked upon as more prevention than cure. When it comes to avoiding sun damage, a daily threat, your first port of call should be an effective sunscreen – one that's about more than just SPF; it's a product that needs research and responsible usage. After all, if Wolverine had to battle cancer six times, there's no guarantee that any of us is immune to it. A version of this story was published on May 10, 2018
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mole and skin-lesion checks at Wolverhampton NHS drop-in event
A hospital is giving visitors the chance to get any moles or skin lesions checked at a drop-in event organised to raise awareness of sun exposure and the damaging effects it can have on skin, including stall will be at Greggs at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton on Tuesday, from 10:00 BST to 14:00 will be run by members of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's dermatology teamVisitors will be able to access a range of free samples promoting healthy skin care and have the chance to talk to specialist nurses about the importance of skin cancer prevention and detection. Last year, Cancer Research UK said melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK rose by almost a third between 2009 and charity report suggested around 17,000 melanoma cases every year were preventable - with almost nine in 10 caused by too much ultraviolet (UV) Smith, clinical nurse specialist at the Wolverhampton NHS trust, said: "Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, but most cases are preventable by taking proper precautions in the sun."It's really important that everyone knows how to best protect and look after their skin to help prevent skin cancer forming, and know how to check their skin properly to help spot any issues as quickly as possible."These events are a fantastic way for us to raise awareness of skin cancer but also foster a culture of proactive skin health, hopefully allowing us to detect cancer when it's easier to treat or avoid it altogether."The team shared the following tips to help prevent sun damage:Avoid tanning beds: tanning beds emit harmful UV radiation and increase the risk of skin cancerUse sun protection: always wear sunscreen with a high SPF, and reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweatingSeek shade: avoid prolonged sun exposure, especially during peak hours between 10:00 BST and 16:00 BST and avoid clothing: cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses to shield your skin from harmful UV your skin for changes regularly and report any skin changes to your GP or nurse promptlyPeople who would like a free mole check, leaflets, advice or a chat in confidence are encouraged to attend the event next week. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
