Advice on staying safe in the sun

With Sunday (May 8) set to be particularly warm and sunny across Sussex, advice has been issued ahead of Sun Awareness Week.
Stocksnap-Julia CaesarStocksnap-Julia Caesar
Stocksnap-Julia Caesar

Next week is the British Association of Dermatologists’ Sun Awareness Week.

Here are their top tips on staying safe in the sun:

Protect your skin with clothing – don’t forget to wear a hat that protects your face, neck and ears.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when it’s sunny.

When choosing a sunscreen look for a high protection SPF (SPF 30 or more to protect against harmful UVA).

Apply plenty of sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every two hours.

Be sure to reapply sunscreen after swimming and towel-drying.

Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.

Don’t be one of these devastating facts.

- Seven people die from skin cancer every day in the UK.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

- Over 100,000 new cases of all skin cancer diagnosed in the UK each year.

- Rates of malignant melanoma are rising faster than any other type of common cancer.

- On average, someone who dies from skin cancer typically loses 20 years of their life.

- At least two 15-34 year-olds are being diagnosed with malignant melanoma every day in the UK.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A guide to checking your skin by Dr Bav Shergill, Consultant Dermatologist & British Skin Foundation Trustee: “Most skin cancers can be cured if detected early. The best way to detect skin cancer is to check your skin regularly, about once a month. You should examine the skin all over your body, from top to toe. Ask a friend or member of your family to look at areas you can’t see such as your scalp, ears and back. Look out for moles or patches of skin that are growing, changing shape, developing new colours, inflamed, bleeding, crusting, red around the edges, particularly itchy, or behaving unusually.

“Remember, if in doubt, get it checked out straight away. We recommend that you tell your doctor about any changes to a mole or patch of skin. If your GP is concerned about your skin, make sure you see a Consultant Dermatologist - an expert in diagnosing skin cancer. Your doctor can refer you for free through the NHS.”

Find out more about the skin cancer appeal here: www.ittakesseven.org.uk

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: