Some sun at last

Well I might be being a bit over optimistic but there finally seems to be a bit of sunshine around and it feels warm enough to want to be outside. It's great to think we might be able to get into the garden for a bit, go out for walk, or sit outside at a country pub... And some people will be going off to the sun for a holiday.

At this time of year it's easy to forget that the sun can still be quite powerful and affect our skin. So even now, it's worth digging out the sunscreen. Being aware of what the sun can do is really important - it causes damage to the skin as well as increasing the risk of developing skin cancer.

People who've had lots of exposure to the sun find that their skin ages more quickly - the skin gets more leathery and wrinkled at a younger age. So take care while enjoying the sun - wear sunscreen of over factor 15, cover up and stay in shade when it's really hot.  

Of course some people find ways of getting a tan even when the sun's hidden. Many people still use sunbeds despite increasing awareness that they too damage your skin and increase the risk of developing skin cancer later. Denise van Outen has recently been in the news speaking about the damge to her skin after using sunbeds when she was still in her teens. Now the Health and Safety Executive are proprosing that people aged under 18 are banned from using sunbeds.

Tanning is a natural process so people who work outside will generally have a tan - and will also have more leathery skin! But we need to protect our skin not encourage a tan. There's loads more information about the dangers of the sun and sunbed risks on Cancer Research UK's Sunsmart website.

Hopefully we're beginning to realise that having a tan is not something to be sought after. I love it when the sun's out  - but I know I have to be careful and keep the sunscreen at hand - it's worth it in the long run.