Winter sun protection

Whether it is a beach holiday to Barbados or skiing trip to St Anton, ensuring you have the right sun protection is imperative. Skiers come back with panda eyes, where areas of the skin have been exposed to sun’s UV rays. Beach-goers whose skin has been covered up for the past few months, now strip off and bear their skin to the scorching sun.

With incidences of skin cancer continuing to rise, it is now the fastest rising cancer in the UK. Over 100,000 people are being newly diagnosed with malignant melanoma and it causes over 2,000 deaths in the UK each year.

For skiers, high level sun protection is vital to help protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun because UV exposure is more intense at higher altitudes than at ground level. Sun worshippers think they look healthier with a tan, but actually it’s a sign our skin is already harmed by UV radiation and is trying to defend itself from further harm.

Ideally people should opt for a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or more, and a high level of UVA protection (look out for the circular UVA logo on the label). UVA affects the elastin in the skin, so it is necessary to have UVA protection to help defend the skin against sun-induced ageing, as well as skin cancer. SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and shows the level of protection against UVB, which causes burning and is strongly linked to skin cancer and in particular malignant melanoma. 

Anthelios XL, by La Roche-Posay offers a high level of UV protection against the harmful effects of the sun. The combination of patented filters Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL offers broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB. It is available in a variety sizes and formulas for different skin types in SPF 50+ and SPF30, for the face and body in a lotion, fluid, stick, cream and spray so ideal for skiing trips or winter sun holidays.

For more information, visit laroche-posay.com.