Brits have been applying sun cream all wrong, which could increase the risk of skin cancer in the most unlikely areas

Research presented recently at the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual conference suggests that we’re all missing a spot when it comes to sun cream. Some 57 participants were asked to apply sun cream on their faces, then researchers took pictures of their faces using a UV camera.

Remarkably, participants left an average of 9.5% of their faces exposed. The areas left without cream were also revealing – 14% missed their eyelids, and a whopping 77% missed the skin between their inner eye and nose.

But does this 10% of missed skin really matter? Unfortunately, yes.

Five to 10% of all skin cancers occur specifically on the eyelids. So, having being informed about the dangers of skin cancer around the eyelids, participants were then asked to re-apply the sun cream. However, the volunteers still missed an average of 7.7% on their face.

Study co-author, Dr Hamill seemed rather bemused. After thecresults he stated: “Perhaps the most important thing to take away from this research is the importance of sunglasses.”