Stay safe in the sun this month

Sun Awareness month aims to provide information on both skin cancer prevention and detection.
By Julie-Ann Spence
Published 30th Apr 2021, 10:58 BST
The South Eastern Trust Sun Aware teamThe South Eastern Trust Sun Aware team
The South Eastern Trust Sun Aware team

Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds is the main cause of skin cancer.

In the UK, almost 9 in 10 cases of melanoma (the most serious type of skin cancer) could be prevented by taking the correct precautions and enjoying the sun safely, as well as avoiding the use of sunbeds altogether.

Sun protection tips:

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Sunscreen - Make sure that you purchase a good quality sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB radiation, and has a minimum SPF of 30. Apply it properly at least 30 minutes before you go outside. This will allow your skin to fully absorb the lotion. Reapply sunscreen to your exposed skin every two hours.

Sunglasses - Research has found that 5-10% of skin cancers occur on the eyelid. When buying sunglasses, look out for indicators of high quality and safe glasses such as the ‘CE Mark’, UV 400 label, or ‘100% UV protection’ written on the label or sticker.

Correct clothing - Darker clothes with tightly woven fabric will give you more protection from the sun. Look for clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) on the label. A UPF of 40 or higher means that your clothes will absorb or reflect at least 97% of UV light.

Hydration - Drink at least 2 litres of water a day.

Damaging your skin now can possibly lead to health risks later in life.