Latest news with #Eavanna
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Skin expert slams worrying sun cream trend - 'Beyond shocked'
One of Ireland's leading skin experts has revealed a worrying trend that some people are ditching sun protection as they believe it's dangerous. Eavanna Breen said she was shocked to learn that despite continuous campaigns on the importance of SPF, some think it's a hoax. After appearing on Virgin Media's Ireland AM this week to speak about sun safety, the skin expert was flooded with social media comments deterring people from using sunscreen. She told the Irish Mirror: 'It really only came to light for me after Ireland AM posted on their Instagram a clip of my interview. The amount of comments in it saying that sunscreens are toxic, that they contain chemicals that cause cancer and that we shouldn't be using them. 'Some people were even suggesting to make their own. I was just beyond shocked at the volume of people that believe that sunscreen is bad for them.' The chemicals in sunscreen that cause concern include oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate and parabens. However, none of these chemicals have been classified as a cancer-causing substance by any major scientific organisation. Oxybenzone gets the worst reputation, due to concerns that it might act as a hormone disruptor - a chemical that has the ability to interfere with the body's natural hormone production. One study which used rats found it disrupted their hormones, however, the rodents were fed oxybenzone; it wasn't placed on their skin. The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology found it would take an individual 277 years of sunscreen use to achieve the equivalent systemic dose that produced effects in these rat studies. Eavanna said she thinks there's a bit of 'tin foil on the head' with people who are rejecting sun protection. She added: 'People are so disillusioned with governments and scientists, and since the pandemic, there's just a huge lack of trust out there. 'I think that's what it's about. They just don't trust the scientists. They don't trust science. And, yeah, it's just this growing conspiracy theory that we're not being told everything that we need to know.' The skin expert said it's 'worrying and upsetting' that people believe this, as skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Ireland. This country also has the highest incidence of skin cancer in Europe. According to the Irish Cancer Society, there are almost 12,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year, with nine out of ten being caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) from the sun or sunbeds. The owner of the Eavanna Breen Skin Clinic said she believes the prevalence is high because we are less educated than other countries, and Irish people are 'obsessed' with getting a tan. She continued: 'I think that that culture comes from the fact that we don't have a lot of sunshine, we're not as educated about it. 'In Australia, they know the drill. They know because it's constant. The message is there constantly, the facts, the science, the government guidelines, they're always being bombarded with how to manage and how to cope but we just don't have that here in Ireland.' Eavanna said the best tan is from a bottle, and that people don't need to worry about harmful chemicals in self-tanners. She added: 'Within the EU consumer safety they monitor toxins so closely in skincare. 'So within any skincare product, all the ingredients are measured for their toxicity, so anything that you buy that's made in the EU is pretty safe. So for people to say that they're full of chemicals in the same way they would say that about sunscreens, it's just not true. 'Yes, there are chemicals, but they are chemicals in safe doses that won't cause cancer and don't disrupt your endocrine system. So they are safe.'
Irish Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I'm a skincare expert - why slapping on factor 50 isn't always the best idea'
Many diligent sun worshippers may believe that slapping on SPF 50 is the best way to protect our overall health. And while it definitely has it's place, one of Ireland's leading skincare experts has revealed that sunscreen with a high factor has a time and place. Eavanna Breen says while protecting our skin from the sun is paramount, our body also needs to absorb some vitamin D. She explained: 'Minimum factor 30 is what I would recommend. And in the summer months, I would recommend going higher. So from March to September, I would say go 50. And from September to March using an SPF 30 is sufficient in Ireland, when you're not in direct sunlight all the time, because you do need a certain amount of vitamin D. 'So, the incidental bits of sun that you'll get from being outdoors in and out throughout the day will get you that vitamin D requirement that you need.' This comes as the Irish Cancer Society said there are almost 12,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year, with nine out of ten being caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) from the sun or sunbeds. Eavanna says compared to other countries Irish people do not take sun safety seriously enough, and it's something that needs to be considered all year round. She told the Irish Mirror: 'People don't take it seriously enough, and I think that's because we don't get a lot of sun in this country, they think that it's not an issue. "But it's not about the heat of the sun, it's about the UV rays that they can do. There's UVA and UVB. UVB is the one that causes burning on our skin, and it becomes more prevalent at this time of the year, so from March to September, the UVB rays will tend to be stronger, so we're more at risk of burning. 'But, the UVA rays are constant all the time, they don't necessarily burn our skin, but they're the ones that age our skin, and they're the ones that cause these other problems within our skin.' The skin expert, who owns the Eavanna Breen Clinic, said the best way to protect our skin is by following the SunSmart Code. This consists of five steps: seeking shade, slipping on clothes, wearing sunglasses, using sunscreen and knowing the UV index. According to the Irish Cancer Society, a UV score of three or higher leads to a greater risk of skin damage. From April to September, the charity encourages everyone to check the UV index on the Met Éireann website. According to a recent survey by TanOrganic, only 18% of those surveyed said they consider the UV index when applying sun cream. Some 40% of respondents also said they do not reapply sun cream throughout the day, despite recommendations for SPF to be applied every two hours, particularly when swimming or sweating.
RTÉ News
09-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Irish skin expert: "Your skin remembers everything"
You may not remember the sunburn you got on that trip to the beach ten years ago, but your skin certainly does. In fact, according to Irish skin expert Eavanna Breen, your skin remembers everything - every sunburn, every tan, every day you skipped SPF. "Damage that you do - even as a three-year-old when you had no choice in the matter, and your parents forgot to put your suncream on - it takes 20 years or so for that damage to start manifesting itself," she explains. This means that the sun damage your body experienced as a child and throughout your teenage years may only come to the surface in your 30s and 40s. Just because a burn simply peeled and went away in a matter of days, doesn't mean it didn't make an impact. "I think that's why people don't necessarily take it so seriously," says Eavanna. "There is no instant damage visible, really, but pigmentation, accelerated ageing, loss of collagen, uneven skin texture, redness and rosacea can be hugely affected by excessive UV exposure." Thankfully, it's not all bad news. Damage can be treated, and the skincare industry is constantly developing new and promising treatments. "That's what I love about the industry," she says. "There's so much to learn, and there's always innovation, and there's always new stuff coming out. It's just so exciting. I mean, the way we are going to age is going to be so different to how our parents aged. That's down to science." With over 11,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually in Ireland, looking after our skin needs to be a top priority. "Early detection is critical," says Eavanna. "When caught early, up to 90% of skin cancer cases are curable." With this in mind, this Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Breen is urging the public to not only wear SPF daily (and properly), but also to address existing sun damage. As Clinical Director of one of Ireland's premier beauty salons, Eavanna hopes to help those already living with visible signs of sun damage. "There's so much damage that UV rays can do, but there's so much we can do to fix that damage," she insists. While retinoids can encourage collagen production in the skin, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy) can target pigmentation and redness. "Our aim is not just aesthetic," says Eavanna. "It's about helping people feel more confident in their own skin while supporting better long-term skin health." Most importantly, Eavanna wants everyone to know that it is never too late to make SPF a daily habit. Remember: you should have enough product to cover the length of your middle and index fingers to cover your face and neck. This should then be reapplied throughout the day. Unfortunately, this means that the makeup you wear that includes SPF is likely not going to cut it. Firstly, two finger lengths of foundation may be far too much. Secondly, you're likely not reapplying another two finger-lengths worth of product a few hours later. Even if you are wearing SPF, it's vital that you remember to reapply. If you put an SPF 50 on at 7am, by the time your lunch break rolls around, it will have degraded to SPF 20 or thereabouts. Eavanna's top recommendation is to wear SPF50 Sun Oil as it can become a part of your morning routine and lasts for eight hours (unless you're swimming or sweating heavily). Other, slightly less favourable options include SPF sprays and powders that can be applied over make-up. "The sprays are handy, I'm just not a huge fan of them because people tend not to apply enough," she explains. "But even just using a sponge with sunscreen on it and dabbing it over the makeup is a good way to do it. Or you can even get powdered SPF - they're not as effective, but, in Ireland, for a quick top up as you go out on your lunch, it's perfect." Eavanna's top 5 skin health tips Seek shade: Shade offers up to 75% UV protection. Be clothes conscious: Cover up with UV-protective fabrics. Embrace the hat: Protect your scalp, face, and eyes. Wear sunscreen daily: SPF is essential year-round in Ireland. Know the UV index: Take extra precautions when UV Index hits 3+. If you have any concerns about your skin, whether it be sun damage or a mole, be sure to check in with your GP.
