85% of women admit to skipping sunscreen, even when it’s warm

Published 25th Jul 2024 by Michelle Duffield

Skin care brand Hada Labo Tokyo reveals research that majority of women neglect sunscreen, despite being aware of the long-term skin damage.

Worrying new data has revealed that a high 85% of women go out without sunscreen, even when it’s warm. The research, conducted by Japanese skincare brand, Hada Labo Tokyo, also found that 69% of women only put sunscreen on their body during warm, sunny days, neglecting their face.

This is despite the fact that 91% of women correctly believe that the sun can cause skin damage and 88% think that skin damage and skin ageing are connected. Plus, eight in ten (79%) are concerned about the sun’s impact on ageing their skin.

Speaking of the alarming data collected by Hada Labo Tokyo, GP and medical broadcaster, Dr Hilary Jones says it’s a cause for concern. “We live in an age where every year, come summer, we’re reminded of the need to wear sunscreen. The sun does provide health benefits yes, such as helping provide the body with vitamin D, but it can also cause skin cancer and it has a huge impact on skin ageing. Ultraviolet (UV) rays have been shown to damage skin, and areas that are exposed more frequently such as the face, hands and feet, often age more rapidly than other parts of the body.”

Plus, it doesn’t need to be sunny for the sun to cause skin damage.  “Sun damage can occur when it’s overcast; even on a warm, cloudy day, you should be wearing sunscreen. You should also be alert to the risk of reflected radiation. Sadly, only 35% of women feel it’s only necessary to wear sunscreen when it’s really hot and sunny,” says Dr Hilary Jones.

“Either there’s a lack of knowledge around sunscreen or it’s ignorance as we assume that the sun won’t actually do any damage,” adds Dr Hilary Jones.

The latest Hada Labo real world data confirms that it is indeed likely to be a lack of education around sunscreen as nine in ten women believe that more information should be available regarding why sunscreen needs to be used.

What’s more, 45% do not know the difference between UVA and UVB rays. GP, skin specialist and a member of the Hada Labo Tokyo skin care panel, Dr Nisa Aslam says: “UVA radiation accounts for 95% of the sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface, and this is the one which triggers the damage associated with tanning. UVA radiation also damages collagen and elastin in the skin, which accelerates the signs of ageing. UVB radiation can’t penetrate as deeply as UVA, but it can cause serious damage to the skin’s upper layers, and trigger the DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer.”

Ideally, sunscreen should protect against both UVA and UVB and have an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 50.

Achieving a golden glow is also a factor which is causing women to skip the sunscreen. 

Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “A tan is seen as healthy yet there’s no such thing as healthy UV tanning as too much UV radiation damages the DNA in our skin cells. However, the Hada Labo Tokyo data has found that 57% of the females polled have skipped sunscreen in the hope of getting a better tan. You can still tan through sunscreen, however what many people aren’t addressing is how important will their tan be in five, 10, 15 or 20 years when their skin has aged considerably due to too much time in the sun.”

Discussing how we can reduce the impact that the sun has on our skin, Dr Nisa Aslam says: “Ultimately, avoiding the sun is the best thing you can do. But only a third (32%) of women actively avoid the sun. Plus, avoiding the sun isn’t always easy, so a high SPF sunscreen that also contains nourishing skin-supporting ingredients, is essential. As the Hada Labo data shows, 85% of the women polled believe that the sun causes skin dehydration yet only 41% think about hydrating their skin more during summer.”

The launch of Hada Labo’s new sunscreen range is set to revolutionise skincare in the sun. Honey Ross, screenwriter and podcaster says: “We need to care for our skin; we can’t replace it. Yet the sun is going nowhere and many of us still want to enjoy the sunshine and warmth of summer.”

Hada Labo Tokyo has released two sunscreens that combine SPF 50 sun protection with hydrating hyaluronic acid. Both the new Hada Labo Tokyo water-resistant moisturising sunscreen face cream SPF 50 and the new Hada Labo Tokyo water-resistant moisturising sunscreen sunlotion SPF 50 have three different UV filtersprovide proven protection against both UVA and UVB via physical and biochemical modes of action. The anti-ageing ingredients include three forms of hyaluronic acid: 

· Sodium Hyaluronate — a water-binding hydration hero which helps replenish moisture lost from the outer-most layer of skin. Each molecule can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

· Super Hyaluronic Acid — also known as sodium acetylated hyaluronate, which was developed to increase affinity with the skin and lock in moisture to provide prolonged hydration.

· Nano Hyaluronic Acid — also known as hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, is made up of even smaller molecules, to maximise moisture retention deep within the epidermis and help combat wrinkles and other signs of ageing.

 

In addition to the HAs, Hada Labo Tokyo’s two sunscreens also include:

· Squalane — a moisturising lipid, which is found in human sebum, helps to repair the skin barrier, boosts collagen and counteracts wrinkles.

Panthenol — an antioxidant and lubricant derived from vitamin B5 which enhances the apearance of the skin. 

Michelle Duffield

Michelle Duffield

Published 25th Jul 2024

Michelle is the editorial assistant to Aesthetic Medicine magazine.

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