Croda launches sun care app as study reveals men pay little attention to warnings
The new Solaveil suncare phone app has been developed to accurately diagnose skin type, give an SPF recommendation based on the UV index of current location, alert when to reapply sunscreen and when to go indoors after over exposure to the sun, as well as give general sun protection advice.
‘Macho’ men not being safe
The UK-based ingredients supplier conducted research in the UK and found that more than one-fifth of the 1,000 UK adults surveyed, aged 18 to 24, said it's never important to wear sun cream, contrasting only 5 per cent of 35 to 44 year olds, who appear to be the best educated.
"Our research clearly shows strong gender and age divides when it comes to sun care in the United Kingdom," says Nicola Daniels from the Solaveil Sun Care Team.
"Men, who appear to be influenced by a 'macho' culture, are far less likely to follow sun care guidelines; and sadly, and perhaps most worryingly, this trend is replicated amongst the young.”
Importance of sun care
According to the research, men in the United Kingdom are twice as likely to never wear sun cream than women—7 per cent versus 15 per cent, respectively; and almost half of men surveyed (44 per cent) confessed to getting sunburned at outdoor sporting and music events in the UK, compared to only a third of women.
"With such a series of top sporting and musical events drawing us outdoors this summer, it has never been more important for Britons to follow sun care advice. We would urge anyone planning on spending time outdoors in the United Kingdom this summer to follow sun care guidelines,” continues Daniels.
Twenty per cent of the men surveyed also thought you could spend at least an hour in the sun in the UK without applying sun cream, whereas half of the women felt the same.
Range of details
"Our free app has been especially designed to alert users when to reapply sun screen or seek shade and we hope it will ensure the summer of 2012 is one to remember for all the right reasons,” says Daniels.
The new app requires users to fill in a range of details about your skin tone, hair and eye colour, and GPS data then detects location; determining local temperature and UV estimates.
The results are then used to establish SPF requirements and will then hook up with the iPhone's built-in alarm to set of reminders for when sunscreen needs to be applied.
Daniels adds that the app is geo-specific so it will work anywhere in the world and adapt to new surroundings and climates. Multiple profiles can also be set up on one device too.
