12 anti-ageing secrets for your skin

From helping to prevent premature ageing to avoiding skin cancer, here's the latest expert advice

- By Tanya Pearey

Don’t underestimate the power of the UK sun. ‘Sunburn is something that can happen all year round in the UK as well as abroad,’ warns GP Dr Hilary Jones.

And sunburn not only creates premature skin ageing, it also raises your chances of skin cancer. ‘Skin cancer is on the increase and you’re not safe just because you don’t go abroad,’ says Dr Jones. ‘Last summer, the UK enjoyed record temperatures, and we were sometimes warmer than the Caribbean and many Mediterranean countries.’

Go for SPF 30 as a minimum

Use factor 30 sunscreen on exposed areas, with at least four-star UVA protection. Opt for factor 50 if you are fair-skinned or burn easily.

Know the hotspot

‘From March to October in the UK, sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm,’ says Dr Jones. ‘So it’s most important to protect yourself during this time.’ Spend more time in the shade, and cover up with loose clothes and a sun hat, as well as using sunscreen.

Don’t scrimp on the amount of sunscreen

‘Most of us don’t apply sufficient sunscreen,’ says Dr Jones. ‘We might buy it and put it on but we don’t use enough. And we don’t apply it as frequently as we should.’ Or early enough. As a guide you should be using around eight teaspoonfuls to cover your entire body. Apply it at least 30 minutes before you go into the sun, and reapply it every two hours and after being in the water (even if it says it’s water-resistant), or after sweating or towel-drying.

Be extra careful during the menopause