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Expert's warning to Brits over '30-minute sunscreen rule' that is commonly ignored

On Monday, May 25, the record for the hottest May day was broken amid heatwaves across the country, prompting advanced facialist Donna-Marie Beard at AL Aesthetics to warn Brits of a commonly forgotten '30-minute sunscreen rule.'
Prolonged UV ray exposure causes sunburn, irritation, dry skin, fine lines, and long-term skin damage, with experts recommending avoidance of direct sun between 11am and 3pm and staying hydrated to reduce heat-related illness risk.
SPF 50 fends off 98% of UVB rays compared to SPF 30's 97% protection, with the NHS rating SPFs on a scale of 2 to 50+ and broad-spectrum sunscreens blocking both UVA and UVB rays.
Beard advises reapplying sunscreen every two hours after swimming or sweating, while dabbing rather than rubbing ensures even coverage, with commonly missed areas including ears, hairline, eyelids, and the back of the neck.
The SPF number on sunscreen packaging is widely misunderstood as indicating time in sun rather than UV blockage effectiveness, with experts warning that ignoring the 30-minute application window increases risks of premature ageing and long-term sun damage.

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