Think sun cream isn’t worth it when you’re over 50? Dr Mark Porter explains why protecting your skin still matters, even after years of sun exposure.
My husband recently had some pre-cancerous patches on his scalp “frozen” by a dermatologist but is refusing to apply the high-factor sunscreen he was advised to use.
He thinks sunscreen is a waste of time now as “the damage has been done”. He stays out of the sun when he can, but is a keen golfer and, given he has very little hair these days, I worry he is risking more serious problems in the future.
Perhaps he will listen to you.
While much of the damage will indeed have been done, it’s certainly not too late to benefit from using sunscreen.
A typical person living in the UK receives around half their lifetime sun exposure (UV rays) by their mid-forties, setting off irreversible changes that lead to problems in later life, ranging from premature ageing to abnormal pigmentation and skin cancer. However, while none of us can turn the clock back, it is not too late to prevent further damage and slow progression of any existing changes.
Older people are at highest risk of skin cancers like melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, mainly because of their age (the biggest risk factor for most cancers), but also because they are the generation that grew up without sunscreens when they were young. And if they did use one it was probably only SPF 2 or 4, which provides minimal protection compared to what we use today (my daughters routinely wear factor 30 or higher).
At the very least your husband should wear a cap when playing golf. And ideally regularly apply a high factor sunscreen (SPF 50) to his scalp and exposed parts when in the sun. Not only will this reduce the risk of pre-cancerous lesions like actinic keratoses turning nasty – these are dry, scaly red, pink or brown patches that feel a bit like sandpaper – it can also slow their development, so you get fewer of them. And it will help prevent sunburn too.
One caveat. High-factor sunscreen and covering up may reduce sunlight powered vitamin D production in the skin, so your husband should consider taking a daily supplement (such as 10mcg/400 units of D3) throughout the year, rather than just during the gloomier autumn and winter months.
Have you got a medical question for Dr Mark Porter? He can’t reply individually, but will respond to questions on this page*
Email drmark@saga.co.uk.
*Always talk to your own GP
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