Skin experts talk sun safety with Boots’ Sunshine Sam

04 Aug 2011

University of Manchester scientists will be sharing top tips on how to keep safe in the sun at two public events.

Leading dermatologist Professor Chris Griffiths and his team will be joined by Sunshine Sam, mascot of high street chemist Boots, who will be encouraging people to top up their sunscreen, courtesy of Boots’ Trafford Centre store and its Soltan range, and give advice on how to get sun-smart this summer.

The first event takes place at Manchester Museum on Saturday (11am-4pm) as part of the museum’s ‘Summer on the Allotment’ event, where people will also be able to get top tips on growing their own food. The British Skin Foundation and the British Association of Dermatologists have provided the team with sun safety tips to share with visitors to the event.

Chris said: “Some sunshine can be good for us, helping the body produce Vitamin D, which is essential for good bone health, but over exposure to the sun can lead to a range of skin problems.

“We may associate a tan with looking healthy, but it’s actually the opposite – a tan is a sign that skin has been damaged. Sunlight contains different wavelengths of ultraviolet light. UVA rays attack the tissues that give our skin its elasticity, leading to premature ageing and wrinkling, while UVB rays affect the top layers of our skin, causing sun burn and, in the worst cases, skin cancer.

“However, it is still possible to enjoy the nice weather this summer by taking a few important steps to protect the skin, such as using a high factor SPF 5 star UV sunscreen daily.” 

The second sun-safety event the group will be running takes place at Salford Royal Hospital on Tuesday, August 9, between 10.30am and 2.30pm.