Sun Safety & Sunscreen

How can I best protect my skin in direct sunlight?

Spending time in the sun increases a person’s risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging - 90% of skin cancers are due to UV radiation. When spending more than 30 minutes outdoors and in the summer months in order to reduce these risks, we recommen

Will using Dr Sam's sunscreen decrease my Vitamin D levels?

You need exposure to UVB radiation in order to make Vitamin D, which we know is causally linked to skin cancer. It’s very difficult to advise exactly how much exposure to UVB is needed to make enough vitamin D safely without increasing someone’s risk

What does 'broad spectrum' mean?

Sunlight contains a mix of electromagnetic radiation - you'll have heard of UV, visible and infrared rays. Overexposure to UVA rays and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer. In addition to causing skin cancer, here’s what each of these types of UV rays d

Why is high SPF better than a lower one?

The British Association of Dermatologists recommend SPF 30 or higher because studies have found that we tend to under-apply sunscreen by around as much as a quarter, we tend to miss out areas and we often forget to reapply. Therefore there is a highe

Why does the sun make me break out?

Sun exposure has often been misguidedly recommended as a way of reducing acne. However what we now know is that it actually makes matters worse - this is because it encourages comedogenesis (blocked pores) and it causes dark marks from spots to darke

What's the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen?

Most sunscreens protect skin against damage from UV-light through the use of minerals or chemical filters. These two methods work differently. Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin, providing a physical barrier that provides protection through ab

My make-up has SPF 15 in it. Isn't that enough?

This comes back to the whole quantity issue - the dose required to deliver the number promised on the pack. To get SPF 15 you’d have to apply that same 1.25ml amount - which would look mask-like and defeat the purpose of make-up (which is to enhance

So how do I top up sunscreen if I'm at work?

This is where it gets tricky - it’s unlikely you’ll get the full level of protection from sunscreen applied at 8am by the time you reach midday. And reapplying sunscreen on top of make-up is a messy business. So the best hack is to wear a tinted suns

I need further assistance with sunscreen?

Please email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to assist you.