Keeping safe in the sun

Why protect your skin?

Sunlight makes us feel good and provides us with vitamin D, known as 'the sunshine vitamin'. But too much sun can also cause painful sunburn, make your skin age faster and even cause some types of skin cancer. So it makes sense to avoid the sun when it's at its strongest.

If you are on holiday in a hot country, you may need to keep out of direct sunlight from 10am to 4pm. Even in the UK, midday sun is strong enough to burn. The sun can penetrate through thin cloud, so take care even in hazy sunshine. A cool breeze can disguise the heat of the sun, so be especially careful in the mountains or by the sea, when you may not realise how hot it is.

What to wear in the sun

When you are out and about in the sun, make sure you wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim. It will shade your face and stop you getting too hot. A hat is even more important if your hair is getting a bit thin on top.

Wear a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes. Check they meet the British Standard BS EN 1836:1997, which will give your eyes good protection from sunlight. Big sunglasses are not just on-trend; they also shade the delicate skin around your eyes.

Skimpy bikinis and shorts may look great when you're on the beach, but they don’t give your skin much protection. If you’re planning to spend a long time in the sun, cover up with a T-shirt or (better still) a long-sleeved top and skirt or trousers. Women can take advantage of this year’s fashionable maxi-dresses for ankle-length protection.

What about sunscreen?

Sunscreen is a must if you’re going to be out in the sun. Research shows that using sunscreen correctly can reduce your chances of getting the most common type of skin cancer. Regular sunscreen also reduces the risk of a type of skin damage (called solar keratosis).

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive sunscreens. But you should choose one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. In particular, you may wish to use a sunscreen with a higher sun protection factor for children. You should also check it protects you against both UVA and UVB light (UV stands for ultraviolet). Both types of UV light can damage your skin.

It’s very important to use enough sunscreen. Most people don’t use enough. To get the right amount, use the 'two-finger rule'. Squeeze out sunscreen along the length of your first two fingers. Use this much sunscreen on each of these parts of your body: your head, neck and face; each arm; upper back; lower back; chest; stomach; each upper leg (back and front); and each lower leg (back and front).

You need to cover any skin that’s exposed to the sun, in an even layer. Put it on at least 15 minutes before you are exposed to the sun, and reapply regularly. Check the packaging to see how often you need to reapply.

But don’t think that wearing sunscreen means you can stay in the sun for longer. If you do, you can still get sunburn and you may also increase your risk of getting skin cancer. Even with sunscreen, you still need to cover up or get out of the sunshine during the hottest part of the day.

Looking after babies and children

Children and teenagers are more likely to spend a long time in the sun, so it's important to take special care of their skin. If the sun damages your skin when you're a child, you're more likely to get skin cancer (especially a type called melanoma) when you get older.

Babies under 6 months old should stay out of the sunshine, because their skin is thin and sensitive, and sunscreen may give them a rash.