Practical question SPF/etc

Hi GardenRose385bd1 

Asking how you can protect your skin from the sun is not a silly question at all. In fact, it's a very sensible question.

I was diagnosed with melanoma in November 2016 so have had 9 summers since then when I've had to adapt my way of life to stay safe in the sun. 

It's important to protect your skin from the affects of the sun but this doesn't mean you need to be scared to go outside.

When I was diagnosed with melanoma I was given a leaflet with the following advice which you might find helpful:

1. Stay out of the sun during the strongest time of the day (11am to 3pm) between April and October inclusive in the UK and in all months of the year in any other part of the world
2. When going outside wear long sleeved tops and trousers/skirts made from natural fibres like cotton
3. Wear a broad brimmed hat (brim should be at least 3 inches) and sun glasses
4. Sit in the shade and never sunbathe
5. Any part of your body that is not covered, ie. face, neck, back of hands should have a sun protection cream of SPF 50 that is effective against both UVA and UVB rays
6. Re-apply the sunscreen every couple of hours or immediately after swimming
7. Never use sunbeds
8. Don't use sunscreen instead of covering up

I decided that every cloud has a silver lining and went on a shopping spree to buy clothes that were more suitable for keeping me covered. There's even clothing now which says it protects your skin up to SPF50.

As for which brand of sunscreen to choose, that's really down to personal preference. You'll probably find that whichever brand you currently use will do one that is SPF50. My current favourite is Nivea Protect and Moisture SPF50+.

So cover up, stay in the shade when you can but still go out and enjoy these late summer days.

Anne