Sarah's Health Notes: Sun-protect tips for lips, lids and ears
Let’s be clear: I would never say don’t go out in the sun. It’s one of life’s great mind and body enhancers and I love it. There’s widespread advice from experts that about ten minutes a day leaving our skin naked of sun preps is vital. But, after spending quite a lot of time reporting from hot countries and staying in Australia (we had a house there), I can testify to the need for sun protection the rest of the time.
Lots of friends over in Oz had skin cancers, luckily the non-malignant kind – but they can become harmful if not treated. And I emerged with sun spots – brown patches of pigmentation, which are really difficult to get rid of even with peels. (I’ve found daily vitamin C serum is the best way to fade them.) Most irritating of all, my back and bits of my front have what my colour-blind husband calls ‘green’ patches of scaly skin: these unsightly, rough, brown-grey patches are correctly known as actinic or solar keratoses and, though usually harmless, there is a small risk they can turn into squamous cell skin cancer so I get them checked every few years. They can be frozen away and there are also topical treatments.
First line of sun defence is clothing: light colours (black absorbs UV rays), floaty frocks/caftans/palazzo pants, big-brimmed tightly woven hats and Jackie O sunglasses – large with broad arms. And, of course, stay in the shade when the sun is at its hottest.
Second line is sunscreen: I’m a great believer in broad spectrum products, which protect against both UVA and UVB, applied lavishly every two hours if you’re in a hot climate and always after swimming. Whether it’s SPF30 or 50 doesn't make a lot of difference to protection, either in terms of effect or duration. SPF30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while SPF50 blocks about 98%. If you’re using a sun prep with potentially toxic synthetic chemicals, e.g. oxybenzone or octinoxate, SPF50 has more of those for no real benefit.
Now to lips, lids and ears, all of them particularly vulnerable to UV damage, and often somewhat neglected when it comes to sun protection.
The thin delicate skin of eyelids is particularly vulnerable to sun damage, and that is a major risk factor for skin cancers as well as eye conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Sunglasses with UV protection will help, as will a dedicated sunscreen such as Ultrasun Eye SPF30, which gives high protection for eyes and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive and sun sensitive. Best to avoid applying general sun preps to the eye area as they can cause real ouch-making soreness and irritation if they get in the eye.
The thin skin of the ears is vulnerable too. A former nurse alerted me to that after she developed cancer of the outer ear. She hadn’t thought how exposed her ears were when she went around as usual with her hair tied back under a baseball cap. Sunburn can be painful there, too. Some research also suggests a possible link between long-term sun exposure and hearing loss, possibly due to oxidative stress on the inner ear. So do protect ears with sunscreen and, if you have longer hair, consider pulling locks down over your ears.
When it comes to UV damage to lips, it’s a potential double whammy because not only is the skin the thinnest on your face but it contains less melanin, the pigment that helps protect against sun damage. So lips are prone to getting burnt, dry and possibly to pre-cancerous skin damage.
Pharmacist Shabir Daya at Victoria Health recommends Coola Liplux Lip Balms, which are hydrating and moisturising with mongongo oil and cupuacu butter, UV protective, and in a variety of natural tints: Skinny Dip, Summer Crush or Firecracker.
I’d add my favourite Lanolips Tinted Balm SPF30 in Rhubarb/£8.99.
Shabir also offers these tips for lips:
Reapply SPF30 lip balm every two or three hours especially after swimming
Look for ingredients such as zinc or titanium dioxide for effective UV protection
Avoid glossy lip products that don’t contain an SPF, as shiny glossy lips can attract more UV rays
Keep up hydration levels so skin and lips are hydrated from within; drink plenty of water, and also consider an electrolyte drink such as Viridian Electrolyte Fix Liquid/£14.25 (really important in a heatwave and also good for sports)
Wear a wide-brim hat to provide shade to lips and face.
