SPF: Not just a HOLIDAY FLING

Bin the sun lotion once summer is over? You could be putting your health and complexion at risk

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The warm rays of summer sunshine will be over before we know it, and soon swimwear season will be a distant memory. But you might want to think twice before clearing out the sun lotion from your bathroom cabinet - shielding your skin in the cooler months is just as vital. Here's why you should be slapping on sunscreen 365 days a year.

Prevent cancer

Although it may feel like it, the sun doesn't disappear completely once summer is over. The harmful rays that cause skin cancer can still reach your skin, says Laura Harker, lead screening nurse at The Mole Clinic. Every day in the UK, on average 48 people* are diagnosed with the disease. 'However, extensive sun exposure is responsible for four out of five cases, making it preventable,' says Laura. As there's no proven way to reverse sun damage, prevention is the best strategy, according to consultant dermatologist Dr Adam Friedmann. 'When we get sunburnt, it causes specific DNA mutations, which increases the risk of cancer in skin cells.'

Ward off wrinkles