I have a confession to make.
For most of my life, I never wore sunscreen.
Growing up in Egypt, sunscreen simply wasn’t part of our culture. Nobody around me used it, and I never saw it on the shelves the way you see it in Boots today. I spent hours under the frying sun, believing a tan was just a sign of health. It wasn’t until just a few years ago, after moving to the UK, that I finally started applying SPF.
And I’ll be honest with you, it wasn’t because I knew better. It was because a dermatologist on a podcast (long before I started hosting my own) said, in very firm words: “Use your sunscreen.”
Fast forward to today, and I had the chance to sit down with Dr Hiba Injibar, consultant dermatologist and founder of Dermasurge Clinic, on The Visionary Podcast. Her take on sun damage, SPF, and skin cancer was a wake-up call, even for me.
Why Sunburn in Your 20s Haunts You in Your 40s
One of the things that shocked me most during our chat was learning how long-term the effects of sun exposure really are.
“Sunburn and unprotected sun exposure causes DNA damage,” Dr Hiba explained. “That damage may not show up until decades later, often as skin cancer.”
So all those summers I thought I was just getting a harmless tan? I was, in fact, writing damage into my skin’s memory. And that DNA doesn’t forget.
It’s frightening to think that the choices we make in our twenties can resurface twenty or thirty years later in the form of melanoma.
How to Choose the Right Sunscreen
If you’ve ever stood in the pharmacy staring at 20 different bottles of SPF, you’re not alone. I asked Dr Hiba what really matters, and here’s her advice:
- SPF 30 minimum. Ideally SPF 50. Anything below 30 simply isn’t enough protection.
- Broad-spectrum coverage. Look for sunscreens that protect against UVA, UVB and even visible light.
- Pick a texture that suits you. Oily skin? Go for oil-free formulas. Kids? Sprays work wonders. Pigmentation issues? Choose a tinted mineral sunscreen.
- Reapply often. Especially if you’re at the beach, swimming, or simply outdoors for long periods. Every 2–3 hours is the golden rule.
But What About Vitamin D?
This was my excuse for years: “If I wear sunscreen, won’t I be deficient in vitamin D?”
Dr Hiba reassured me. “You only need about 10–20 minutes of direct sun exposure to get enough vitamin D,” she said. “And here in the UK, supplements are recommended anyway during winter months.”
So no, wearing SPF daily will not deprive you of vitamin D. What it will do is protect you from wrinkles, sun spots, and, most importantly, skin cancer.
A Promise to My Younger Self
As I sat there listening to Dr Hiba, I couldn’t help but think of my younger self, carefree under the blazing Alexandria sun. If I could go back, I’d hand her a bottle of SPF 50 and say: “This will save you a lot of trouble one day.”
But since time travel isn’t an option, I’m doing the next best thing: using sunscreen daily, teaching my daughter to do the same, and sharing this message with you.
So if you take away only one thing from this post, let it be this:
👉 Your skin will thank you later for the SPF you wear today.
– Written by host Hala Ali
The Visionary with Hala Ali Podcast 