Living in a climate which isn’t particularly hot or really bright for that matter, we in the U.K. are particularly prone to being passionate about the sun when it arrives and shows it’s face! No matter even if we’re enjoying a ‘good’ summer, we still hop on a ‘plane, car or boat, to enjoy even more; those sunfilled skies.!

The sun is essential to life,and it’s sunlight brightens our days, makes us feel better, it’s warmth particularly pampering as it penetrates to our bones. We love it .We love to feel it. We love to relax and enjoy it. It is after all essential to life itself.

We all need ultraviolet light on our skin to survive; every part of our body and it’s metabolism being affected for good. Vitamin D3, a sun hormone, can only be synthesised for it’s proper use in the body when ultra violet light falls on the skin. So you don’t need a tan to be healthy. Some sunshine is good for you.

The skin doesn’t distinguish between outdoor or indoor exposure. That’s why sunbeds are such a boost, especially in countries such as ours, with similar climates. They offer regulated doses of ultraviolet light which can then be used to suit each individual’s need depending on skin type. Skin cancer is caused by burning, as is skin aging. Skin always needs time to repair from UV damage whether you burn or not, hence the resting times inbetween tanning sessions. Burning is always serious.

Outdoors it’s a different matter. This is an uncontrollable area, with many factors affecting the day. Most of us have learned the hard way as regards getting a tan---out in the sun for hours on end, totally inadequate protection, especially for the babies and children, not enough covering to the head and neck areas to prevent that dreadad ‘sunstroke.’Sunburn before the age of 16 has been linked to melanoma developing later in life.

Besides being unable to asess UV exposure outside we are at the mercy of density levels, intensity levels, clouds, air pollution, altitude, reflective levels as in water, and so on. We often turn a blind eye because of our hunger for it’s penetrating goodness and oh -------that wonderful ‘feel good factor.’

Did you know that up to 90% of ultraviolet light can penetrate the clouds-----so you can burn even on a cloudy day? Even shade contains up to 50% of ultraviolet light.

Air pollution can hit the UV rays in the atmosphere and cancel them out . The greater the air pollution the less UV light is able to get through.
Relective surfaces like water need attention. Choppy water is very reflective of the UV light. And you will receive extra doses of UV on these surfaces. Sand reflects perhaps 25% back at you. Altitude affects UV light by increasing 6% per kilo as you rise above sea-level on the earth’s surface.

Quality protective sun creams are available these days. I say ‘quality’ becuase there are many cheap sunscreens around. These only provide UV filters. Speciality tanning lotion companies like Power Tan, produce higher quality outdoor tanning lotions containing specialised tanning and skincare ingredients found in their indoor creams as well as UV filters. That way you recieve better tanning results, optimum skincare, and some sun protection ----all at once. However the Powertan range dosen’t contain a sunscreen.

Be a responsible, aware, outdoor person as regards the effects of the changing faces of that wonderful sun in all it’s splendour.