Get the right protection

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Main Content: Get the right protection

Lavera spokesperson Jo Fisher, a qualified skin care advisor, holistic therapist and firm believer in organic and natural skin care advises how to find the right protection and calculate your SPF:

Every skin type has its own natural built-in protection time. Know your skin’s sun safety time (how long you can safely stay in the sun before burning):

Fair skin - 10 minutes

Olive skin - 15 minutes

Dark skin - 20 minutes

Without the appropriate sunscreen you should, under no circumstances, stay in the sun for any longer than this time. The classification of the skins own protection time applies to the skin of those aged between 5 and 50. The skin of younger children and the elderly is much thinner and requires extra special care and protection. Similarly, those with extremely sensitive, allergy-prone skin require special care and additional protection. A cream, spray or lotion with sun protection factor (SPF) prolongs the time you can stay in the sun according to the following formula:

Skins own protection time x sun protection factor

For fair skin, this means for example: approx. 10 min. x SPF20 = 200 min. = 3 hours 15 minutes of sun exposure time

This formula applies to all sun protection factors but it is important to note that after this time, the skins own protection period for that day has been used up. There is simply no pigment left that can be transported to the upper layers of the skin, meaning it is not advisable to expose the skin to the sun even though more cream may have been applied.

The protection you need depends upon:

  • Your skin type
  • The amount of sunlight
  • Your age i.e. adult, child, baby
  • The climate
  • The location i.e. at sea, in the desert or up mountains
  • The season
  • The daytime

Our skins self defence system does not provide enough protection for the UV rays we encounter all around us, so always remember to:

  • Wear protective clothing
  • Avoid sun or sun bathing during the hottest parts of the day
  • Use an effective, 100% natural sun screen

Page Last Modified: 25/05/2010


Top tips

1) Find the required SPF for your skin type

2) Identify the SPF on your sunscreen (e.g. SPF20). Look for the UV logo – this shows your sunscreen complies with new EC/Colipa guidelines for sun protection product quality.

3) Be natural. There is a proven link between chemicals in synthetic sunscreens and hormonal disturbances in the body. Use natural, mineral-based sunscreens to avoid any undesirable hormonal changes. This is especially important for pregnant or breastfeeding women as studies have shown the chemicals in synthetic sunscreens can accumulate in the body; they have even been found in breast milk. Avoid synthetic chemicals such as 4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor, (4-MBC), Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-3, Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates(OMC), Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid(OD-PABA), Homosalate(HMS).

4) At the start of the summer, choose a high factor of SPF20 or higher, and only stay in the sun for short periods in order to acclimatize your skin gradually.

5) Apply sunscreen carefully and generously. Re-apply after swimming and perspiration.

6) Apply sun protection even while in the shade; you are still exposed to 40% of the sun's UV radiation.

7) For the best protection under make-up, use a two-in-one moisturiser/sunscreen such as lavera’s Anti-Aging Sun Screen SPF15 for the face.

8) Take particular care of babies and children in the sun, and always ensure they are wearing clothing and a hat for extra protection. Paediatricians recommend babies under 6 months stay in the shade and receive minimal exposure to direct sunlight.

9) Avoid direct sun exposure between 11am and 3pm, as sunlight is strongest during these times.

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