All year long, it seems that we do nothing but wait for the arrival of summer; relaxing breaks on the beach, cocktails in the sun, picnics in the park, festivals…and yet, when it comes along, we often find ourselves completely unprepared for the sun. The summer this year has been so unpredictable that one minute we find ourselves reaching for our brollies, the next, slapping on the sun cream. Even though the skies may be overcast, it is still important that we protect our skin from harmful UV rays. Although, realistically, we should do this all year around, it is vital in summer that we protect our skin adequately, even on days when it is distinctly overcast.

The effects of harmful UV rays on the skin is well documented, and can lead to serious, life-threatening illness, but it can also dramatically speed up the ageing process and leave your skin dehydrated, dull and dry. Damage from excessive exposure can be shown by special Visia cameras, the results of which can be extremely surprising. Manor Skin Spa has been utilising Visia cameras for skin analysis for a number of years, and they say that clients are often shocked by what they see;

“We always use Visia cameras to analyse a client’s skin before undertaking any skin treatment. What they never seem to realise is that the UV rays they expose their skin too all year around can have a dramatic affect on their skin’s pigmentation which can lead to older looking skin particularly early on in their lives. One of the major contributors to this is an overuse of sunbeds and other such products. We recommend using a moisturiser containing SPF all year around, and a high SPF suncream in the summer. Make sure that you cover up and expose your skin to the sun gradually, and use an after sun or moisturiser containing cocoa butter or aloe vera following prolonged exposure to the sun”

Because the aesthetic impacts of sun exposure on the skin have only really been emphasised in the last 20 years or so, a number of women often find that they have excessive damage to the pigmentation in their skin. We should remember that 40 years ago, it was standard behaviour to slather your body in oil and sit in the garden frying for hours. If you think that you could benefit from treatment, there are many clinics throughout the country using Visia cameras where you can get your skin analysed and choose an appropriate treatment.