You may not remember the sunburn you got on that trip to the beach ten years ago, but your skin certainly does.
In fact, according to Irish skin expert Eavanna Breen, your skin remembers everything - every sunburn, every tan, every day you skipped SPF.
"Damage that you do - even as a three-year-old when you had no choice in the matter, and your parents forgot to put your suncream on - it takes 20 years or so for that damage to start manifesting itself," she explains.
This means that the sun damage your body experienced as a child and throughout your teenage years may only come to the surface in your 30s and 40s. Just because a burn simply peeled and went away in a matter of days, doesn't mean it didn't make an impact.
"I think that's why people don't necessarily take it so seriously," says Eavanna. "There is no instant damage visible, really, but pigmentation, accelerated ageing, loss of collagen, uneven skin texture, redness and rosacea can be hugely affected by excessive UV exposure."
Thankfully, it's not all bad news. Damage can be treated, and the skincare industry is constantly developing new and promising treatments.
"That's what I love about the industry," she says. "There's so much to learn, and there's always innovation, and there's always new stuff coming out. It's just so exciting. I mean, the way we are going to age is going to be so different to how our parents aged. That's down to science."
With over 11,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually in Ireland, looking after our skin needs to be a top priority.
"Early detection is critical," says Eavanna. "When caught early, up to 90% of skin cancer cases are curable."
With this in mind, this Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Breen is urging the public to not only wear SPF daily (and properly), but also to address existing sun damage.
As Clinical Director of one of Ireland's premier beauty salons, Eavanna hopes to help those already living with visible signs of sun damage.
"There's so much damage that UV rays can do, but there's so much we can do to fix that damage," she insists.
While retinoids can encourage collagen production in the skin, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy) can target pigmentation and redness.
"Our aim is not just aesthetic," says Eavanna. "It’s about helping people feel more confident in their own skin while supporting better long-term skin health."
Most importantly, Eavanna wants everyone to know that it is never too late to make SPF a daily habit.
Remember: you should have enough product to cover the length of your middle and index fingers to cover your face and neck. This should then be reapplied throughout the day.
Unfortunately, this means that the makeup you wear that includes SPF is likely not going to cut it. Firstly, two finger lengths of foundation may be far too much. Secondly, you're likely not reapplying another two finger-lengths worth of product a few hours later.
Even if you are wearing SPF, it's vital that you remember to reapply. If you put an SPF 50 on at 7am, by the time your lunch break rolls around, it will have degraded to SPF 20 or thereabouts.
Eavanna's top recommendation is to wear SPF50 Sun Oil as it can become a part of your morning routine and lasts for eight hours (unless you're swimming or sweating heavily).
Other, slightly less favourable options include SPF sprays and powders that can be applied over make-up.
"The sprays are handy, I'm just not a huge fan of them because people tend not to apply enough," she explains.
"But even just using a sponge with sunscreen on it and dabbing it over the makeup is a good way to do it. Or you can even get powdered SPF - they're not as effective, but, in Ireland, for a quick top up as you go out on your lunch, it's perfect."
Eavanna’s top 5 skin health tips
- Seek shade: Shade offers up to 75% UV protection.
- Be clothes conscious: Cover up with UV-protective fabrics.
- Embrace the hat: Protect your scalp, face, and eyes.
- Wear sunscreen daily: SPF is essential year-round in Ireland.
- Know the UV index: Take extra precautions when UV Index hits 3+.
If you have any concerns about your skin, whether it be sun damage or a mole, be sure to check in with your GP.
