How to stay safe in the sun

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It’s the most common skin cancer found in young people in the UK. 

Skin cancer is a cancer that starts as a growth of cells. These cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. 

Melanoma is the most common type of skin cancer found in young people. Melanoma usually affects existing or new moles. It can also develop as a new dark or unusual looking growth on the skin. It can happen on otherwise healthy-looking skin. 

Skin cancer can be caused by over exposure to the UV light that comes from the sun. UV light can also be found in sunbeds. 

Find out more about skin cancer. 

Signs of skin cancer can be any changes to your skin, such as: 

• a new growth or sore that won’t heal 
• a spot, mole or sore that itches or hurts 
• a mole or growth that bleeds, is crusty or forms a scab 

It’s important to check your moles regularly and ask for an appointment with your GP if you’re worried that any of your moles are: 

• getting bigger 
• changing shape 
• blurred, rough or jagged around the edge 
• getting darker or turning red 
• made up of more than one colour 
• itchy, painful or crusty 
• bleeding 
• changing in appearance in any way 

One way to keep on top of any changes is to make a note of any freckles, moles, birthmarks, bumps, sores, scabs or scaly patches that you have. Set a reminder in your phone every month to check the ones you have listed, write down any changes and make a note of any new ones that appear. 

If you notice any changes from the list above you should always make an appointment to see your GP and have them take a look as well. 

Yes, you can get sunburn in the shade. UV (ultraviolet radiation) exposure is what causes sunburn and this doesn’t always come from sitting in direct sunlight. Even if you’re sitting in the shade UV can bounce of other surfaces and still come into contact with your skin. This might happen if you’re sitting by water (like a pool or the sea) but it can also bounce of other non-shiny surfaces like sand, grass and concrete. 

This is why it’s important to wear sunscreen even if you’re not sitting in direct sunlight. 

There are lots of different types of sunscreen, and lots of different prices. Sunscreen doesn’t need to be expensive – there are cheaper options available that have been through testing to make sure they work well. It’s important to find a sunscreen you like because this will make it more likely that you’ll use it.

A chemical or non-organic sunscreen contains ingredients that protect your skin by absorbing the sun’s rays and preventing it from damaging the skin. Mineral sunscreens are usually hypoallergenic and may be a safer choice for people with sensitive skin.

Which? is an independent consumer watchdog that tests different products and advises the public. Find out more about which sunscreens are effective on the Which? website. 

You should reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, whether you’ve been in water or not. 

Different sunscreens have different SPF ratings. You should always use a sunscreen that’s SPF30 or above, we would recommend using SPF50.

It’s also important to check the sunscreen you’re using has a UVA star rating. It’s important that your sunscreen has UVA protection – you ideally want to look for one with a four- or five-star rating. 

If you’re going swimming or you’re going to be in water make sure the sunscreen you’re using is water resistant. If it’s not you should cover up when you’re in the water and then you’ll need to reapply the cream when you come out. There are water resistant sunscreens available too but you still need to make sure you reapply these regularly. 

Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) are two types of light radiation that can cause skin cancer. UVA has a longer wavelength and is linked to skin ageing, this means it can cause wrinkles and other signs of ageing. UVB has a shorter wavelength and is associated with sunburn. UVB is also makes vitamin D.

The UV Index tells you how strong the sun’s UV rays will be. The higher the UV index, the greater the strength of the sun’s UV rays and the more likely you will burn. You can usually find the UV Index rating on the weather app on your phone.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Everyone’s skin is different and it’s important to understand that what works for one person, might not work for you. 

You’ll see that different sunscreens have different SPF numbers. Most big brands will have a range of SPF15, SPF 30, SPF 50. It’s recommended you always use SPF 30 or above.  

These numbers relate to how long your skin is protected from sunburn. If you are usually able to spend 10 minutes in the sun without getting burnt then SPF30 will protect your skin for 30 times that. 

However, regardless of what SPF number you’re using, we would always recommend reapplying your sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you’re going swimming or if you’re sweating as this can reduce the effectiveness of your sunscreen. We would also recommend using SPF50 to maximise your skin’s protection.

You want to make sure you get good coverage with sunscreen. The equivalent of one egg cup’s worth of sunscreen for your entire body for each application should be enough. Remember to reapply your sunscreen every two hours or before if you’re swimming or sweating, even if it’s water-resistant.  

It’s important to remember that sunscreen can go out of date and when it does it might become less effective at protecting your skin against the sun. Make sure you check the expiry date on the bottle or look for an icon that looks like a small pot with an open lid. This will have a number inside that shows how long the product is in date for. Eg. 12M = 12 months.

You should put sunscreen on around 30 mins before going out into the sun. You should then reapply it every two hours. 

Remember to cover all the exposed skin, not just a mole or a number of moles you are worried about. 

If you’re swimming you should reapply your sunscreen when you come out of the water, even if it’s a water-resistant sunscreen. You should also reapply it if you’re sweating a lot as this can wash off the sunscreen as well. 

In the past 30 years, cases of skin cancer have risen faster than any other types cancer in the UK. 

Getting sunburn just once every two years can triple your risk of skin cancer, compared to if you’ve never been burnt. More than two young adults (aged 15-34) are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the UK. 

The damage done to your skin when you’re young could lead to skin cancer developing in later life, so it’s vital to get clued up now and protect yourself from the sun.

No. Sunscreen is designed to protect your skin against the damage from UV rays. It can’t completely block your skin from the sun. This means you might still get a tan if you’re using higher factor sunscreens, like SPF50. 

Yes, sunscreen does still work if you apply it under makeup. It doesn’t matter which away around your put your sunscreen and makeup on, but just remember that you need to reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours. 

It doesn’t matter which order you apply sunscreen and moisturiser but you’ll need to reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours.