How to protect your skin on holiday

Whether you seek out the sun or do your best to stick to the shade, looking after your skin is essential – especially while you’re away on your summer holidays.

We’re not just talking about nasty sunburns crippling your trip and cramping your style. Time spent unprotected in the sun can do irreversible damage.

Sunlight’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages the DNA in skin cells and leads to premature ageing and skin cancer. The longer your skin is exposed to UV rays, the greater the risk of harm.

But it’s not all doom, gloom and fretting over SPFs. We spoke to the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) to get their expert tips on holiday skin care. By following these simple tips and best practices, you can maximise your holiday time in the great outdoors while minimising potential skin damage.

Sunscreen 101: What is SPF and UVA rating?

It’s our first port of call when it comes to sun protection but there’s a little more to sunscreen than just asking a mate to “do my back”.

Holly Barber of BAD stresses that picking up the right sunscreen is paramount.

“[We] recommend that you choose sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 and a 4- or 5-star UVA rating,” she says. “It’s also important to choose one that you will want to reapply regularly.”

Understanding the ratings is relatively simple. ​​The SPF (sun protection factor) number indicates how much longer it would take your skin to burn compared to not using any sunscreen. For example, with SPF 30 sunscreen, it would theoretically take you 30 times longer to burn than if you weren't wearing sunscreen.

However, SPF only relates to protection against UVB rays – that’s the rays that burn you. Also look out for the UVA star rating, which ranges from 0-5. The more stars, the better the UVA protection. Aim for a sunscreen that provides both high SPF and UVA protection.

How to apply sunscreen correctly

Many of us know from harsh experience that it’s all too easy to apply sunscreen too thinly and miss patches of skin. Getting it right isn’t all that tricky though, and you should start to apply around 30 minutes before spending time in the sun.

Holly shares a simple formula to remember when applying your sunscreen.

“As a guide when using lotions, the very minimum you should apply is at least six full teaspoons (approximately 36 grams) to cover the body of an average adult,” she explains.

“This is more than half a teaspoon of sunscreen to each arm and the face/neck (including ears), and just over one teaspoon to each leg, front of body and back of body.”

Proper use of sunscreen also means reapplying every two hours (at least), and immediately after swimming, sweating or towel drying.

“The combination of going for a quick swim and towel drying can remove a large amount of your sunscreen, therefore it’s always important to reapply sunscreen straight after going for a swim,” Holly adds.

No sunscreen is sweat proof or completely waterproof, so reapplying frequently is essential, especially if you've been in the water.

When applying sunscreen, don't forget oft-missed areas like the backs of the hands, tops of the feet, ears, scalp, and any bald spots. Lips can burn too, so apply a lip balm or lipstick with SPF. For hard-to-reach areas like your back, ask someone to help you or use a spray sunscreen.

Sunscreen for different complexions

Though different types of skin react to sun exposure differently, everyone who plans to spend a long time in the sun should be thinking about protecting their skin (it’s our largest organ, after all).

Dermatologists generally categorise skin into one of six types. One denotes fair skin that burns easily, and six denotes darker brown skin that does not. You can check your skin type on BAD’s ‘Skindex’ here.

“Pale skin can burn in fewer than 15 minutes in strong sunshine,” Holly warns. “But in the UK, sun protection to avoid sunburn isn’t likely to be routinely required in people with darker skin types, especially very dark brown skin.”

While those with darker skin have more natural protection from UV rays thanks to higher levels of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour, sun protection is still advised.

Holly adds: “Sun protection is also important if you have a skin condition, such as photosensitivity, vitiligo or lupus.”

“[It’s also important if] you have a high risk of skin cancer, especially if you are taking immunosuppressive treatments (including organ transplant recipients) or if you are genetically predisposed to skin cancer.”

People with many moles (50+) should be extra careful too, as 30% of melanomas develop in existing moles.

No matter your skin tone, sunscreen helps prevent skin damage that can lead to premature ageing, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer.

Why you should never wear cheap sunglasses

While it may be tempting to pick up a cheap pair of sunglasses, especially if you're prone to losing them, wearing cheap shades can actually do more harm than good.

Cheap sunglasses often don't provide adequate protection against harmful UV rays. While they may dim bright light, they allow UV rays to pass through the lenses and reach your eyes, increasing the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye problems.

What’s worse, the dark tint of cheap sunglasses causes your pupils to dilate, allowing more UV light in than if you weren't wearing sunglasses at all. This is all to say, without proper UV filtering, your sunglasses are doing more harm than good.

When shopping for sunglasses, look for lenses that provide 100% UV protection or have a UV400 rating.

Other ways to stay safe

Reapplying sunscreen regularly keeps your skin happier. But sizzling in the sun all day, even with sunscreen, is far from recommended. To enjoy the heat a little more safely, make sure you pack a wide-brimmed hat, a pair of UV-filtering sunglasses, a long-sleeved shirt, trousers and a source of shade, like a beach umbrella.

But like sunglasses, not all clothing and shades are created equal. “Holding fabric up to the light to see how much shines through can help you assess how much it will protect your skin,” explains Holly, adding that the tighter the weave, the better protection you’ll get.

It’s also recommended to avoid the sun when it’s at its strongest, generally between 11am and 3pm, especially between spring and autumn. If you are outside during these peak hours, try to stay in the shade as much as possible. You can still burn even on cloudy days, so don't let overcast skies fool you.

Sunburn care tips

If you’ve slipped up and are already looking a little pink, there are a few ways to soothe the sting of a sunburn.

“Soothing moisturisers, such as calamine lotion, can help ease the pain of skin that is already sunburnt,” advises Holly. “Anti-inflammatories can also help with the pain and redness.”

She adds that there’s no undoing the damage of sunburn.

“It’s best to remember that prevention is better than a cure, because when it comes to sunburn the ‘cure’ will only do so much, and the damage done to the skin can’t be reversed.”

If your sunburn is severe, with blistering, swelling, or a fever and chills, seek medical attention. Sunburn can dehydrate, so keep your fluids up. And avoid popping blisters, which can lead to infection. Let them heal naturally instead.

Most importantly, learn from your mistakes. After getting a sunburn, take it as a lesson to be extra cautious about sun protection.