10/09/2019 / By Darnel Fernandez
Products that offer protection from the sun are widely popular, thanks to their ability to keep the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation at bay. But a recent study has shown that despite their best efforts, certain parts of the face remain unprotected. In a study published in the peer-reviewed open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers from Liverpool in the U.K. discovered that people still tend to miss some spots, especially when applying SPF products to their eyelids. On average, people fail to protect this area 20 percent of the time.
In the two-visit trial, researchers included 84 participants from the University of Liverpool. They asked the participants to apply a bottle of SPF moisturizer on the first visit and sunscreen on the next. For each visit, the participants were asked to apply the product “as they normally would,” without any direction in terms of mode of application or volume of the substance used. Afterward, the participants were exposed to a UV camera to view the results of the application. The team discovered that areas more vulnerable to skin cancer — namely the ears, lips, and especially the eyelids — are also more likely to be missed. Interestingly, the participants were not even aware that they failed to cover these vulnerable spots.
“People were applying cream [and] going out in the sun thinking they were protected,” said lead author Austin McCormick. “And yet one of the most vulnerable areas was left unprotected.”
The Liverpool study highlights the need to protect the whole face from UV radiation. However, it isn’t as easy as applying protective cream on the spots missed. The skin on the ears, lips, and eyelids are sensitive and thin, which make it difficult to apply things such as moisturizers and sunscreen because of their potential harm. Studies have found that most commercial sunscreens contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and avobenzone that are absorbed into the body and can be found in blood samples. These chemicals can build up over time and trigger other health risks such as rashes. Oxybenzone, in particular, has the potential to cause hormonal imbalance.
The sun produces harmful UV rays that increase the risk of skin cancer. However, that does not mean you should be avoiding the sun at all cost. The body still requires a sufficient amount of vitamin D to remain healthy. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself without resorting to commercial sunscreens and moisturizers:
For more information on preventing skin cancer, visit Prevention.news.
Sources include:
MFPRAC.com [PDF]
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