Dermatologist shares correct amount of sunscreen to use during a heatwave
With temperatures this weekend set to top 30C in a number of regions, dermatologist, Dr Scott Walker has shared important advice about the use of sunscreen at the beach
As the UK basks in scorching temperatures with an ongoing heatwave expected to see mercury levels soar past 30C in several regions this weekend (June 21/22), a dermatologist 's timely advice on sunscreen application might be something beachgoers want to take seriously.
Doctor Scott Walker took to TikTok to deliver his skin protection tips as Britain braces itself for the heatwave With a practical demonstration using a glass, he illustrated just how much sunscreen is essential for a day at the beach: "This is how much sunscreen is needed to cover you body on a typical beach day - it's an entire shot glass full, but let's be honest - do you ever apply that much?"
Dr Walker then confessed that the reality is most people skimp on their sunscreen, meaning they don't get the full benefits advertised on the bottle. "Not a lot of people do, which is why the SPF [sun protection factor] advertised on the bottle is not what we are really getting," he remarked.
"Nobody applies enough, and in fact this was proven in a real life study at a ski resort where they gave skiers SPF50 or SPF100 and told them to use it how they normally would."
The findings of the study revealed that it was more common for individuals using SPF50 to suffer from sunburn. Dr Walker shared the lessons learnt: "So, we have learned a couple of things here," he reiterated.
"One - we need to be applying more sunscreen. And two - higher SPF numbers can be beneficial, especially on those days we're going to be outside all day."
Dr Walker closed with a further piece of advice, stating: "Sunscreen isn't perfect! Remember the number one line of defence is physical sun protection - seeking shade and UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing!".
Writing in response, user shared: "Every one I know uses SPF20 maybe 30 if they don't have anything else, but my Scandinavian friend only uses 50 or above regardless. I'd rather be ghostly pale and comfortable instead of red and uncomfortable."
Another chimed in: "That is why I buy cheap. The supermarket brand, the one for atopic skin (normally unscented) and use the same for face and body."
A third person offered their insight: "It's one reason I get a stronger sunscreen than I need. If I don't use enough I'll get the strength I need (and if I can't go stronger I'll make sure to use enough)."
Whilst a fourth person revealed their sun protection strategy: "And we're supposed to reapply that much every two hours if where gonna be out in the sun all day like the beach. Which almost nobody does, myself included - I forget, though I do bring shade and stay under it most of the time."
According to the NHS, meanwhile, adults should aim to apply around six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen if you're covering your entire body.
"If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced," the NHS notes. "If you're worried you might not be applying enough SPF30, you could use a sunscreen with a higher SPF."
The advice continues: "If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice:
30 minutes before going out
just before going out
Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair, but a wide-brimmed hat is better.
"Sunscreen needs to be reapplied liberally and frequently, and according to the manufacturer's instructions. This includes applying it straight after you have been in water, even if it's "water resistant", and after towel drying, sweating or when it may have rubbed off.
"It's also recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
19 minutes ago
- Telegraph
I thought I was a ‘moderate' drinker until I started tracking my alcohol
I'm a social drinker. Warmer, friendlier, after a few glasses. I never drink at home but when I'm out with friends (I work alone during the day), it's a joy to split a bottle of wine at supper, then put the world to rights over another glass. I'd class myself as a 'moderate drinker'. But am I really? The NHS defines 'moderate' as 14 units of alcohol a week and urges both men and women to make this their upper limit. The problem is I tend to assume a large glass of wine is a unit, but in my heart I know this is wishful thinking. A small glass (ie a 125ml thimble of wine) is actually 1.5 units. While a large glass of wine is 3.1 units. In the back of my mind I knew this but have been turning a blind eye. Research shows most of us are prone to this glass half-full mentality when it comes to wine. We can't do the maths. So challenged by the health editor of this paper, I download an app and keep track for a week. Logging my daily units The MyDrinkaware app is a free online calendar that aims to help people understand what impact their drinking might be having on their health. When I fill out the initial questionnaire I feel slightly smug. No, I haven't blacked out, injured myself or another person, forgotten the events of the night before. Three times a week I might have four drinks – but that's moderate, isn't it? Big mistake. The app tells me bluntly that I'm at 'increasing risk' of being dependent on alcohol. 'Your drinking is dangerous to your health, increasing your risk of serious health problems, including seven types of cancer, liver and heart disease and high blood pressure. Unless you cut down, you are at risk of damaging your health.' Gulp. When I consult professor David Nutt, director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London (and co-creator of non-alcoholic drink Sentia), he warns that if we discovered ethanol (alcohol) today, and it was put through the food safety testing requirements, the maximum recommended limit would be a single glass of wine per year. 'Even drinking below the 14 unit per week threshold does increase the risk of breast cancer,' he says. 'If you have a family history of this or have the genes that predispose, then the risk is greater, so you might decide not to drink at all. However, whatever risk category you are in, the less you drink the lower your risk.' I'm shaken. The new moderate me rarely goes over 14 units, surely? So each day for a week I log my drinking on the app. It's a slightly unusual week – including a 60th birthday, the 40th anniversary of a friend's beauty brand at Claridge's, the party for The National Gallery's reopening of The Sainsbury Wing, and a book prize. So there will be a bit more celebrating than usual. But I'm hopeful I can hold the line. Then – bad news – a dear friend reveals she's having a trial marriage separation, and inevitably our cinema evenings involve a bottle or two. ' I'm made of wine at the moment,' she says bravely. Oh dear, my audit isn't looking good. Doing the drink maths Saturday Girls lunch – four small glasses of white (six units) Supper – four small glasses of red (six units) The first shock is how many empty calories I'm putting away. On Saturday, I have a girls' lunch (four small glasses of white wine), then supper and a film with my friend (four small glasses red). Those eight drinks constitute a whopping 728 calories. And, the app tells me, I've used up 13 units. So I've nearly bust my total already. I try not do lunch and supper on the same day (it's too easy to forget the lunchtime units), but this is scary. Monday Picnic – two large glasses of white (6.5 units) On Monday I have a money-saving picnic by the river (my friend decants two large glasses of white wine from her flask) before Sondheim at the theatre. I'm feeling quite proud of myself but the app meanly informs me that's 6.5 units (364 calories). Tuesday Cocktail with a friend at The Groucho Club (two units) The Book Awards – champagne (9.13 units) I meet a friend for a martini before The Book Awards on Tuesday. She's an actress, so the wine waiters are particularly attentive at the awards (did I mention my house rule is never to turn down champagne?). But it's an own goal. The app informs me I've consumed 10.5 units (588 calories). Wednesday Champagne at Claridge's, plus a nightcap (9.13 units) On Wednesday at Claridge's, there's free-flowing champagne again. By my conservative estimate, I had five glasses, then a nightcap at my friend's house – and the app registers 9.13 units (511 calories). Oh God, it was probably more than that. The next day I feel hungover. I've been very proud of myself for giving up free sugar (for this paper). I've stuck to it for three months and lost several inches. But heavens I'm tempted to have biscuits. Only pride helps me not to succumb. Booze does lead to poor food impulse control. Thursday National Gallery party – champagne – again! (9.75 units) 60th birthday – double G&T, plus a small glass of wine (5.25 units) Normally I'd go into purdah for a few days to atone. But unfortunately it's The Sainsbury Wing party the next night. I am deeply grateful to their champagne sponsor (these days parties in the arts are pretty dry), but I rack up 9.75 units (546 calories). I'm actually the plus one this evening – there to support my friend, carry her bag. All fine, but I'm beginning to realise that being the bridesmaid (not the bride) makes you drink more. No one is terribly interested in you, so you hit the drinks tray more often. At the 60th birthday supper I manage to stick to a double G&T and small glass of wine, but that's still 5.25 units (294 calories), way over my daily allowance. The units have racked up dangerously Nervously, I consult the MyDrinkaware dashboard. 'In the last seven days you have had 36 drinks – that's 62.26 units,' it informs me. I'm horrified. I knew it was going to be a bit over the 'safe' 14 units. But the health implications are clear. Apart from the cancer risk, ONS figures show alcohol-related deaths from liver disease are rising substantially (the highest is women in their 50s). 'When you drink a unit of alcohol, your liver has to pause the 500 vital functions in the body, encompassing tasks like filtering the blood, producing bile, and metabolising nutrients, just to get alcohol out of the system as quickly as possible,' Dr Curran of London's Reborne Clinic tells me. 'These functions are crucial for digestion, detoxification, and overall health.' He doesn't drink himself. 'I don't want to come across as judgy, but 14 units may still be too much in women who are struggling with hormone imbalance, excessively high oestrogen in particular. Alcohol can exacerbate a propensity for oestrogen access, which in turn can fuel uncontrolled proliferation in oestrogen-sensitive tissues or tumours such as breast, ovarian and endometrial (lining of womb). Alcohol metabolism also depletes nutrients required for the effective processing and elimination of oestrogen from the body.' I naively believed I was cutting back on booze. And yes, last week was a perfect storm (like Christmas in May). Life chez Hoggard is normally far less exciting. But the truth is even a 'modest' night is over my daily allowance. 'If it's a strong wine, 250ml can be three units,' warns Richard Piper of Alcohol Change UK (who also have a Try Dry app). He agrees the 14 unit recordation is fairly arbitrary. 'There's 200 medical conditions caused by alcohol. For every single medical condition, there is a different risk chart. So how do you alight on a single number above which things are higher risk?' He'd prefer us to adopt the Canadian system where we talk about zero risk (not drinking), very low risk, low risk, moderate risk and high risk. Very low risk would be two to three units a week. He doesn't think consumers should take all the blame, however. It's an addictive substance. 'Let's keep the pressure on government and on the industry,' says Dr Curran. 'It's one of the wealthiest profit-making industries on the globe. Most of the drinks we consume are actually produced by multi-global companies not based in the UK. So it's UK consumers paying the price for other countries' profits. 'Alcohol is more addictive than cocaine, more harmful than tobacco, but we're not told that story, and it's so normalised in our society that we reject that message. But the science behind the cancer risk has really developed over the last 20 years. The challenge for us as an organisation is how to tell that story, without being alarmist, and how to support people to just put alcohol back where it needs to be, as a dangerous product that's also pleasurable. In a democratic society, we're not for banning stuff. Our position is it's up to you to choose.' I'm determined to cut back and have started ordering alcohol-free beers when out with friends (they're so good now I can barely tell the difference). On a seaside jaunt, I don't drink and the drive-back at 5am is surprisingly bearable with a clear head. I won't deny it's been a shaming wake-up call. Just typing the figures into an app makes it harder to ignore the truth. 'Cut one unit, two units out a week, and your chances of living a longer, healthier life increase,' says Richard Piper. Top tips Check the alcohol volume Not all wines are equal. You can find the ABV on the labels of cans and bottles, sometimes written as 'vol' or 'alcohol volume', or ask bar staff about particular drinks. For example, wine that says '12% ABV' or 'alcohol volume 12%', means 12 per cent of the volume of that drink is pure alcohol. A large glass of ABV 12 per cent such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, is three units. Build in more alcohol-free days It's recommended to have two to three alcohol-free days each week, ideally consecutively. Abstaining from alcohol for two to three weeks can significantly reduce liver inflammation and improve overall health, especially for those with fatty liver. 'Even in your 50s and 60s you can have a huge impact by reducing the amount of alcohol you drink,' says Debbie Shawcross, professor of hepatology and chronic liver failure at King's College London. Don't drink on an empty stomach 'The worst thing you can do is drink without food,' says Prof Shawcross. 'You very quickly get drunk and the liver becomes overloaded because it can only break down alcohol at roughly one unit of alcohol an hour. But if you have a meal that keeps alcohol in the stomach for longer, it slows absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.' Measure your drinks Home spirit measures are notoriously difficult to judge, so use a measure (25cl of standard 40 % spirits is one unit). Most people think they are having a double, but it is more like a triple, says Salim Khakoo, professor of hepatology at the University of Southampton. Know your triggers Is it being in a bar? At home watching TV? When you socialise with certain friends? Identify any potential weak spots and find an alternative. Have something fun planned for the morning after a night out If you know you have something to look forward to the next morning, then you're more likely to want to avoid a hungover, and drink less as a result. Downsize your glass sizes (especially when at home) Studies show it helps you drink less, says DrinkAware. Put ice in wine This will dilute the strength, but still gives the taste. Or add a mixer, like soda, to make it a spritzer. Follow the 20-minute rule Take a 20-minute break after you've finished one drink before buying or pouring your next. Your craving will often go away or soften. Go dry at events associated with alcohol Identify one thing you would normally do with alcohol – picnic, festival, restaurant – and do it without alcohol, advises Richard Piper. 'What people find is it's just as fun, sometimes more so, particularly with gigs, where you find yourself queuing to get the beer, and then queuing for the toilet. Say to yourself: 'I did pay quite a lot of money. I want to be fully present'.'
Leader Live
31 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Flintshire Council warns hospital discharge support won't solve issues
Following an inquiry into patient flow at Welsh hospitals, local authorities across Wales are currently working on bids for a share of the fund to try to get patients out of hospital and back into their homes or community care faster. But Flintshire's Chief Officer for Social Services Craig Macleod told the authority's Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the fund was not a silver bullet to cure the NHS of bed-blocking delays. "We have had formal notification that there will be a recurring grant to support timely hospital discharge from the Welsh Government, " he said. "We are currently working on a plan as to how we will use that funding. "We recommend that cabinet welcomes the grant as a step towards supporting discharge, however it will not resolve the issues relating to hospital discharge." One of the criticisms of the Welsh Government approach by Flintshire County Council was its inquiry focused on patient flow rather than patient outcomes. Deputy leader of Flintshire County Council Cllr Richard Jones said: "When you read the report from the ADSS (Association of the Director of Social Services Cymru) they say: 'We believe the terms of reference of the enquiry reflect an overly narrow perspective on the issue - one which prioritises hospital process over the fundamental goal of enabling individuals to live well within the community. "We believe there should be a greater emphasis on patient outcomes rather than just patient flow. That is the same approach we have towards care as an authority." Cabinet supported the work to capitalise on the additional funding and the review of the state of discharge services, which see residents continue to face significant challenges at all three general district hospitals serving Flintshire - Ysbyty Gwynedd, Wrexham Maelor and the Countess of Chester. "Hospital discharge delays should be viewed in terms of causes and context ensuring there is no loss of focus on the individual," said Cllr Christine Jones, Deputy Leader of Flintshire Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing. "The reality is being in a hospital bed when there is no clinical need is not only contributing to the complex pressures within the NHS but it is also not in the best interests of the patient. "The regional partnership board will now take a lead role in producing a North Wales update to the original Audit Wales recommendations around hospital discharge. Flintshire will feed into that report in an effort to deliver improvements to discharge processes for all."
Powys County Times
36 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
MP claims assisted dying could be ‘trojan horse that breaks the NHS'
An opponent of the assisted dying Bill has claimed such a service 'could become the trojan horse that breaks the NHS' after Health Secretary Wes Streeting was questioned about the availability of money to fund it. It is expected MPs will have a vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, which could see it either progress to the House of Lords or fall. It will be the first time the Bill has been voted on in its entirety since November's historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55. While supporters of the Bill say it is coming back to the Commons with better safeguards after more than 90 hours of parliamentary time spent on it to date, opponents claim the process has been rushed and that the Bill is now weaker than it was when first introduced last year. A key change was the replacing of a High Court judge requirement for sign-off of applications from terminally ill people, with a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. As it stands, the proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and the three-member panel. While the Bill has the backing of some MPs from medical backgrounds, concerns have also been raised by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists. Disability campaigners have voiced worries about coercion and how vulnerable people could be caught up in any new law, although the proposed legislation is supported by MP and disability rights advocate Marie Tidball as well as former director of public prosecutions Sir Max Hill. On Tuesday, Mr Streeting confirmed no money has yet been allocated for the setting up of an assisted dying service and reiterated the Government is neutral on the Bill. Mr Streeting voted no last year and has since indicated he remains opposed to the Bill. MPs are entitled to have a free vote on the Bill and any amendments, meaning they decide according to their conscience rather than along party lines. He was asked by Labour MP Katrina Murray, who also voted no in November, whether the NHS has the money to fund assisted dying on top of its other priorities. She said: 'If passed, the assisted dying Bill would make thousands of terminally ill people every year eligible to end their lives on the NHS. 'Does our health service have the money to fund this service as well as its priority of bringing down waiting lists?' Mr Streeting responded: 'Of course, the Government is neutral (on assisted dying). It's for the House to decide. 'There isn't money allocated to set up the service in the Bill at present, but it's for members of this House and the Lords, should the Bill proceed, to decide whether or not to proceed and that's a decision that this Government will respect either way.' Mr Streeting said last year that there were 'choices and trade-offs', adding 'any new service comes at the expense of other competing pressures and priorities'. Dame Siobhain McDonagh, fellow Labour MP who is also opposed to the Bill, claimed an assisted dying service could 'rob our stretched NHS of much needed resources'. She said: 'When asked today in the House of Commons the Secretary of State for Health made clear to MPs that there is no money allocated to the NHS to fund the assisted dying Bill. 'It's now clear that the assisted dying Bill will rob our stretched NHS of much needed resources and could become the trojan horse that breaks the NHS, the proudest institution and the proudest measure in our Labour Party's history. 'We already know from the impact assessment that this new system could cost tens if not hundreds of millions of pounds making our mission to cut waiting times and rebuild our NHS harder. 'I urge Labour MPs not to vote for the assisted dying Bill to protect the vulnerable and our NHS.' An impact assessment published by the Government last month estimated that the establishment of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner and the three-member expert panels would cost an average of between £10.9 million and £13.6 million per year, although overall implementation costs of a service were not possible to work out yet. While noting that cutting end-of-life care costs 'is not stated as an objective of the policy', the assessment estimated that such costs could be reduced by as much as an estimated £10 million in the first year and almost £60 million after 10 years. Bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater has said the proposed legislation is about giving dying people choice at the end of their lives, saying it is 'about the human cost' and 'not about pounds and pence'. She has described her Bill as the 'most robust piece of legislation in this area in the world'. Dozens of Labour MPs called for Friday's overall vote to be delayed, asking Commons Leader Lucy Powell for more time to scrutinise a Bill they say is 'perhaps the most consequential piece of legislation that has appeared before the House in generations'. But a Government spokesperson pointed out that it is a Private Members' Bill and 'the amount of time for debate is therefore a matter for the House'.
