The weather is glorious and if you fancy a spot of sunbathing this week, you should reach for the lotion – but how much should you actually use?
This is a question many of us wonder about, with very few actually knowing the answer.
It’s perhaps easiest to break the amount of suncream needed into teaspoons, which are simple to visualise.
The NHS recommends a single teaspoon for the face and neck, while for the body use around seven teaspoons - which is a bare minimum, so don't be afraid to add more.
This works out to roughly more than half a teaspoon of sunscreen for each arm, and around one teaspoon to each leg, front of body and back of body.
This should be re-applied every two hours if exposed to the sun.
It is widely agreed that SPF (sun protection factor) 30 broad spectrum suncream is a sensible choice, as it offers high protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
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How should I apply suncream properly?
While the above quantities are easy to remember, it's wise to always err on the side of applying too much.
Make sure you slap it on thickly and evenly and reapply regularly throughout the day. This especially applies to products claiming to be ‘water resistant’ and/or ‘once a day’.
How often should you reapply?
Under general use, ie: no excessive sweating or swimming, suncream should protect you for around two hours.
You definitely need to reapply it after towelling yourself dry after a swim or shower.
If you are sweating a lot or swimming, make sure to apply it every 40 or 80 minutes.
And lastly, be aware of the cooling effect of water, which can make you feel you are not getting burned. Water also reflects UV rays, increasing your exposure.
