The shocking damage two weeks in the sun does to your skin even when you are wearing factor 50 suncream
Reader Sarah was after that golden glow on her Ibiza holiday and was confident her skin was protected — but high-tech imaging reveals the shocking truth
THE summer holiday season means sun, sea, sand – and trying to get a glowing tan.
Whether you have been enjoying the sweltering summer here at home or basking on a beach abroad, we know the dangers of not protecting our skin properly. But does sun cream protect you as much as you think?
Laura Stott asked Sarah Hawes, 39, of Dartford, Kent, to analyse her skin before and after her two-week break with civil servant husband Justin, 44, and daughter Bella, seven.
The Visia Complexion Analysis scanner uses high-tech imaging to reveal sun damage.
Dr Sophie Shotter, medical director of , talks us through the results.
The scores
EACH scan gives the skin a score from zero to 100 per cent – zero being the worst possible.
Fifty is an average score for a British woman and the higher the number, the better the condition of your complexion. Anything under 50 is below average.
The lower the number, the worse your face has fared.
Sarah says:
"WE went to Cala Llonga in Ibiza for two weeks. I love catching some rays and feeling the warm sun on my face.
"Having a golden glow makes me look and feel healthier.
"On holiday, I typically spend six or seven hours by the pool or on the beach every day.
"I’m lucky, as I have olive-toned skin which rarely burns.
"In my twenties I used to sunbathe all day with nothing but SPF15. These days I am more careful and use SPF50.
"I used a high-street own-brand face suncream and I will reapply every few hours.
"At home, I don’t use an SPF every day – just a normal budget face cream – but I am happy with my skin and I can’t see any obvious sun damage.
"With SPF50 on, I’m confident my skin is well protected. And with my olive complexion, I didn’t expect to see much damage."
REDNESS: Before 89% After 55%
Dr Sophie says: “Sarah didn’t burn on holiday and she doesn’t look red, she looks tanned. But the redness analysis (pictured) shows the true story.
“After Ibiza she has developed multiple new broken veins. Sun exposure enlarges blood vessels causing these broken veins.
“It also thins the skin leaving it more vulnerable to penetration and damage by harmful UV rays.
“Sarah has lots of new clusters of red veins on her nose, her cheekbones and forehead. Everyone’s nose is especially susceptible to the sun, as it sticks prominently out of the face and catches more rays.
“Sarah’s is badly damaged over the bridge.
“Long-term, this means there will be permanent DNA damage to her skin cells, meaning decreased collagen levels, thinner skin, more wrinkles and ultimately increased chances of skin cancer.”
BROWN SPOTS: Before 88% After 42%
Dr Sophie says: “We’re looking at pigmentation levels and brown spots. Before, Sarah had a small amount of pigmentation, which is normal. But now she’s developed brown patches on her nose, cheeks and upper lip area.
“When the skin is exposed to something harmful – UV rays from the sun – it produces melanin to protect itself.
“When sun exposure is high, too much melanin is produced, resulting in freckles and brown patches.”
WRINKLES: Before 81% After 21%
Dr Sophie says: “Before her trip, Sarah had very few wrinkles – but that has significantly changed.
“There’s a big increase in her deep wrinkles, particularly around her delicate eye area where the skin is thinner and on her forehead.
“This indicates collagen loss. Collagen is the protein which gives our complexions structure and strength, keeping us smooth and plumped-up.
“Levels in our skin fall naturally from our mid-twenties onwards and exposure to the sun only accelerates this decline.
“Rays break down the collagen in the deeper levels of our skin – and less collagen means more wrinkles on the surface.
“Some of Sarah’s new lines will be a result of dehydration, as her skin has been dried to a crisp by the sun.
“She can try to rehydrate it with a good skincare routine. But other wrinkles come from collagen loss – and those ones will be permanent.”
TEXTURE: Before 49% After 3%
Dr Sophie says: “The post-holiday score is almost zero! This takes into account the build-up of dead skin cells. Her face is parched by the sun, the surface is rough and her skin tissue uneven.
“Exfoliating will help but I’d probably recommend an in-salon treatment. Sarah must be careful not to tear and irritate her skin when it is this rough and dry.”
BACTERIA: Before 14% After 86%
Dr Sophie says: “This is interesting. Before going on holiday, Sarah’s complexion was very congested with bacteria that can lead to acne and breakouts.
“There is a dramatic improvement but I don’t think it is down to sun exposure.
“She has been swimming in a chlorinated pool, so I think it is this which has affected her skin.”
UV DAMAGE: Before 20% After 40%
Dr Sophie says: “The black areas indicate irreversible DNA damage caused by UV radiation. Almost all skin cancers are caused by too much UV radiation.
“UVB is responsible for sunburn while UVA penetrates deep into the skin, causing lasting damage. There’s an increase in these black patches and overall her complexion looks darker.”
SARAH’S VERDICT
“I’M shocked. My holiday has given me the skin of a 90-year-old. On the outside, my skin looks good. I used SPF50, I didn’t burn and got a lovely glow. But damage below the surface is massive.
“It’s frightening. You have no idea what’s happening when you’re sunbathing. It is a wake-up call. I’ll spend more time in the shade and also use a face cream with SPF all year round.”
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DR SOPHIE’S VERDICT
“THIS shows even SPF50 won’t offer enough protection on its own.
“Some of the damage to Sarah’s skin will improve naturally back in the UK.
“The redness and pigment will fade and she can help repair her texture and moisture levels on the surface with a good skincare routine. But on a deeper cellular level, any DNA damage will be permanent.”