Our lips should also be protected from sun, dermatologists say

The weekend’s heatwave has had us all reaching for the high factor sun cream to protect our skin.

But there’s one area we tend to neglect – and that’s our lips.

While we cream up our faces, arms, legs and backs before soaking up the sun most of us forget our mouths.

But your lips are even more susceptible to sun damage than the rest of your face – and neglecting them could cause aging, chapped lips and even skin cancer.

Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, told Good Housekeeping: “The skin on your lips is significantly thinner than the skin on the rest of your body, meaning that it is more susceptible to damage caused by UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun.”

Too much exposure to UVA causes premature aging and wrinkles, and the UVB rays can damage the superficial layers of your skin.

The solution is an SPF lip balm, which should be applied regularly.

Dr Mahto added: “Just like with the rest of your body, not applying SPF to your lips regularly means you are more susceptible to skin cancer or other serious skin conditions.

“It also makes the area more vulnerable to premature ageing due to damage from UVA rays, which can lead to a decrease in collagen levels, causing lips to wrinkle and fine lines to form around the mouth.”

Sunblock lip balm is available from most chemists with prices starting at around £1.99.

Other parts of the body that are frequently missed when we apply SPF also include the ears and the eyelids.

Both can suffer severe sun damage if not protected.

If you’ve overdone the sun this weekend, check out our home remedies for sunburn – including yoghurt and green tea.

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