Doctor issues important factor 50 suncream advice ahead of UK heatwave

Doctor issues important factor 50 suncream advice ahead of UK heatwave A doctor has issued an important warning about people's assumptions about factor 50 sun creams ahead of heatwaves and people jetting off abroad this summer time A doctor has issued an important warning about factor 50 sun cream ahead of more heatwaves, and people heading for summer holidays abroad. Many people assume slathering on factor 50 is all they need to protect themselves from the sun all day. Because it's a higher factor than many choose to opt for, there's a false sense of security that comes with putting it all over your body. However, Dr Amber Woodcock has clarified that this isn't actually all you need to do to stay safe in the sun during the summer - and why you should do everything you can to avoid any level of sunburn. Dr Woodcock, known as @thecosmeticsdoctor on TikTok, was speaking about a post she'd seen on social media, where someone referred to factor 50 as "c***" because they'd burned when they used it, saying that they "swear factor 50 is the worst". But Dr Woodcock shared that "sunburn is completely and utterly preventable," and "when you burn, you increase your risk of skin cancer and skin damage," so it's "important" to avoid it as much as possible. Why does factor 50 not work for some? Dr Woodcock said that if you have a "fair skin type, if you're white-skinned, pale-skinned," you are "not going to be stronger than the sun, even with sunscreen on". She said that on a "very hot day with a high UV index," your skin will still be damaged even with factor 50 on. "That's the really important thing you need to understand - it's not providing 100 per cent protection unfortunately," Dr Woodcock shared. 1. People don't apply enough Dr Woodcock said the most common reason this happens is that "people don't apply enough sunscreen". She said little sachets and pump sprays are "not enough," because a lot of it gets blown into the wind and isn't all over your body. You should be using a "shot glass full for your body" and applying sun cream way more liberally, she added. If you have a spray, it should be "literally dripping off your arm," and then you would then "spread that to blend that in" over your body. Dr Woodcock said that her "number one tip" is to apply your suncream "when you're naked" and "cover yourself from head to toe so you can literally see it gleaming". 2. People don't reapply often enough Another mistake people make is not re-applying suncream often enough, leaving their skin unprotected. Dr Woodcock said that, while people may apply it before they go out, they might not think about putting some more on after they've been out for a while. She said it should be reapplied every two hours "liberally, again, until you can see it gleaming". But if you're visiting a tropical country, she said "ideally hourly, especially if you can't seek shade". 3. Spending too long in the sun Dr Woodcock said that fair-skinned people may not be able to spend very long out in the sun, even with sun cream on. "You should be seeking shade in the hot hours, under a parasol, under a tree," she urged. Another warning... She ended the video by explaining that the sun is a "burning ball of radiation," and she has seen many dangerous and "unfounded" claims recently that sun creams cause cancer, and she said there's "no evidence to support this". Dr Woodcock said we are "extremely privileged" to have "access" to suncream, because "it is life-saving".