Let’s make life-saving SPFs VAT-free

I sure am a summer girl, I always have been.

I love my summer clothes, having more make-up free days, and how my long hair dries naturally so fast in the sunshine.

I love my beach days, or catching up with family and friends with barbecues out the back. I just seem to get so much more out of my days in the summer.

Being self-employed, you have to be very self-motivated and driven, and you need to manage time well, and the longer summer evenings allow for a better work and home life balance for us busy bees.

I was recently lucky enough to be invited to a major skin conference in Dublin, where specialists and medical people gave us the most recent research and up to date knowledge on skin and skin cancer, and educated us beauty doctors on the facts.

One of the speakers and doctors told us a memorable story. He said this year he retired and he was ready for it, he was reflecting on how it took him over 30 years to be the good doctor he was. In his final year, he got great clarity on life and patience.

On his final week, a patient he had seen for many years with lots of very minor ailments came in and told him she had turned 70.

“Congratulations,” he said.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked.

“Well,” he said, “my dear, have you any comprehension of how lucky you are go get to this age today?”

He urged this woman to enjoy her life and live it. “Book a holiday, get off the armchair, get out, move, enjoy life, live woman, because you and I are in the department lounge of life whether we like it or not.”

Her mouth was open, and we all laughed at the thought.

I must say, I fully agree with everything he said. I have clients every day telling me of all the reasons they won’t be going on holiday or buying the creams or doing the treatments because they are putting it into material things like the house, garden and cars - all of which will still be here when they’re gone.

This week, I want to present some facts on skin cancer, to help you become skin savvy, and safe in the sun.

THE FACTS

Yes, more people have been diagnosed with some forms of skin cancer in the past two decades, and the research clearly shows the biggest contributors are more sun holidays and sunbeds.

Skin cancer does not come overnight, it can take decades to form, this is why skin specialists like me are forever saying to our clients what sun damage you get on holiday in your twenties can show in later life.

As for sunbeds, Jeez, I hate them. I’ve been on board campaigning now for 25 years that we should ban them.

SPF IS VITAL

I truly believe all SPF products should be VAT-free or a return bottle scheme could be introduced, as we are doing with the plastic bottles and cans that’s proving so successful - this would incentivise people to buy it more often.

We all should be using SPF daily, 365 days a year. Yes, the spikes in sales of all SPF is in summer, but that is not enough.

SPFs save lives, and UV rays are not just out on sunny days, they are out every day, even those dull, damp, wet, cloudy ones.

Also, I always wear a separate SPF for my face and body, as the ingredients for the face ones are different.

Many will give out about the price of a good quality SPF, but they think nothing of spending big money on fags, drink, make-up and takeaways. You have to know what your priorities are in life.

I have clients in their 60s and 70s without a line or a wrinkle on their face because I have educated them on the sun and how ageing it is. They do their monthly facials, they follow the skincare plan, and if they do go on a sun holiday, they have their white brim hats on and sunglasses and we are lifting any sun damage instantly off in facials once they are home.

PIGMENTATION DAMAGE

You’d be so surprised how many people really do not know what pigmentation is, because they are not been educated enough to know the signs and how to prevent it.

Many of us Irish have Celtic skin, which means we do burn easier, darker skin and eye colours are different but still get pigmentation.

Basically, pigmentation is sun damaged skin that shows in many forms - freckles, brow spots and patches, white patches and even red dots.

The white patches I see most on foreheads and the decolletage, and it’s a sign that the skin has been damaged so much, its pigment is gone.

Every day in Emerald Beauty Clinic, I treat people with pigmentation damage and it is because many are using the wrong SPF and skin care brand, many are using oils, which attract the sun more and are not suitable in summer months.

Many others don’t do facials regularly as, if they did, the pigmentation damage would have been removed monthly and we would clear it over time.

The worst thing you can do is just ignore your pigmentation damage and think it’s just old age, it’s not.

Please note any change in size, shape or texture of any pigmentation or sun marks on your skin need to be checked by a doctor. I did one of my weekly beauty videos on this recently and you can watch it on the Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages now.

SCALP, NOSE AND EARS

Easily the three most neglected, often just forgotten areas for men and women of all ages.

While many won’t apply SPF into their hairline, this is now proving to be a huge area of skin cancer.

The skin of the nose is thinner and most susceptible to burning, while many forget to put SPF on their ears.

The good news is we are living in a great time of advanced skincare and treatments, but the key is not to waste time and have it checked.

I know we all love the summer and sunshine in Cork, and it’s well deserved after a long winter, but please be sun savvy and skin aware and pop on a hat, wear the sunglasses, wear the SPF, keep reapplying it every two hours.

Love your skin, it’s the largest organ of our body, and the only one on the outside, protect it always.

Emer O’Callaghan is a beauty doctor and skin specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist of the Year and works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Multi Award Winning Five Star Gold Standard Clinic, 2008-2025, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie, follow on Facebook/instagram/TikTok.

SPECIAL OFFER: All next week, our award-winning Dermalogica Pro 60 facial is reduced from €125 to €95.

Includes full professional skin analysis, eyebrow shape, samples and treats. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. Free parking for clients.