Sun Protection, Hydration & Mole Mapping: Your Complete Guide to Healthy Skin at Hazel Clinic
At Hazel Clinic, led by Dr. Susana Fontana in Blackrock, Dublin, we believe that healthy, radiant skin is the result of consistent care, prevention, and awareness. In a country like Ireland—where skin cancer is on the rise and myths about sun exposure are widespread—we’re committed to educating our patients on how to take proactive care of their skin. This includes year-round sun protection, mole monitoring, and proper hydration.
1. Why is sun protection essential in Ireland?
Most people in Ireland have fair, freckled skin with little natural sun protection. While the rainy Irish weather might make it seem like sun damage isn’t a concern, UVA rays—responsible for skin ageing and many forms of skin cancer—are present year-round, even on cloudy days, and can penetrate glass and light clothing.
Only about a third of our sun exposure happens on holidays. The rest takes place during daily activities: walking to work, driving, or sitting by a window. That’s why Hazel Clinic promotes the 365-day approach to SPF.
Daily sun protection: practical advice
Apply SPF 50 every morning, regardless of weather.
Reapply every 2–4 hours if you’re sweating, exercising or swimming.
Use enough product (around one teaspoon just for the face).
Choose the right format for your lifestyle:
Rich creams for outdoor activities.
Moisturiser + SPF for office wear.
Sprays for hard-to-reach areas and the scalp.
Sticks for quick reapplication during sports.
Tinted or mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin or children.
Don’t forget your face, neck, chest, arms, hands and legs. Keep a mini SPF in your bag or car.
2. Sun protection through clothing and accessories
Wear hats or caps, especially if your hair is thin or fine.
Use driving gloves or golf gloves to protect the hands.
Choose tightly woven fabrics—if you can see through the material, the sun can too.
Use rash vests for swimming or water sports and light scarves to protect your chest.
Chest sun damage and pigmentation is very common in women—daily protection helps reduce risk.
3. What is Mole Mapping?
Mole mapping is a non-invasive and advanced method to thoroughly examine and monitor moles and pigmented lesions over time. At Hazel Clinic, we offer this service as part of our commitment to skin cancer prevention, including melanoma.
How it works:
A full-body examination using digital photography and dermatoscopy.
Detailed mapping and recording of each mole (size, colour, shape, and location).
Future comparisons via specialised software to detect any changes.
Expert evaluation and ongoing documentation.
Ideal for people who:
Have many moles or atypical-looking moles.
Have a personal or family history of skin cancer.
Have sun-damaged skin or recent prolonged sun exposure.
Have developed new or changing pigmented spots.
4. Hydration: the third pillar of skin care
Beyond protection and screening, healthy skin requires consistent hydration:
Internal hydration:
Drink 1.5–2 litres of water daily.
Eat water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon and leafy greens.
Topical hydration:
Use moisturisers suited to your skin type.
Look for key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide.
Use SPF-containing moisturisers during the day.
Hydrated skin heals faster, maintains elasticity, and resists environmental stressors like UV damage.
5. What about Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is essential, but in Ireland, it’s safer to obtain it through supplementation than through unprotected sun exposure. And yes—using sunscreen does not completely block your skin’s ability to produce vitamin D.
We recommend:
Daily Vitamin D3 supplements, especially in autumn and winter.
Speak to your GP if you suspect low levels.
6. Final thoughts from Dr. Susana Fontana
“Most of the skin cancers we treat in Ireland appear in people who’ve never intentionally sunbathed—the damage accumulates from incidental exposure. Prevention is far better than treatment. Daily sun protection, hydration and mole monitoring are not luxuries, they’re essentials.”
Want to learn more?
To book a mole mapping or skin consultation, contact us:
hello@hazelclinic.ie or +353 87 451 3766
Hazel Clinic – Expert skincare in Blackrock, Dublin.
Protect your skin. Monitor your moles. Hydrate every day.
