Sun protection awareness

Why is it important to stay safe in the sun?

Sunlight is essential for the production of Vitamin D, which helps to keep our muscles, bones and teeth healthy. However, there’s no need to spend hours in the sunshine. Short periods with exposed forearms, hands or lower legs are long enough.

Prolonged exposure to the sun, or artificial sources such as sunbeds, can put us at higher risk of skin cancers including:

• Melanoma
• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, and the most serious of all three skin cancers. Every time we tan – even if it’s going out unprotected on a cloudy day – we increase our risk.

Wear sunscreen – even on cloudy days

The great British summer is anything but predictable, and it can be tempting to go out without covering up on cloudy days. However, UV radiation can still damage our skin. Keep in mind the two key types of UV light, which are both present in the sun’s rays:

• Ultraviolet A (UVA) – this has a longer wavelength, and contributes to skin ageing.
• Ultraviolet B (UVB) – this has a shorter wavelength, and contributes to sunburn.

UVA rays can penetrate cloud cover and even glass. What’s more, if you’re in water, on the sand or in a snowy area, these rays are more likely to be reflected and cause skin damage. Choose a sun cream with a sun protection factor of  at least 30, and make sure it protects against both types of rays.

Dress for the weather

Try to cover as much skin as possible with lightly coloured, breathable clothing. This is especially important for toddlers and young children.

Wear t-shirts to cover high-risk areas like the shoulders, and try a wide-brimmed hat to cover the head, face, ears and neck. Don’t forget – baseball caps will not protect the neck or ears.

Opt for sunglasses with added UV protection, as these can prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.

Avoid sunbeds 

Tanning salons may assure their customers that they need a certain amount of Vitamin D to stay healthy. However, this does not need to come from harmful artificial rays. We need short sun exposure and can supplement our diets with oily fish, cheese, eggs, soy milk and cereals.

Getting checked out

You should always keep an eye on your skin and monitor any changes. You can find a wealth of resources here, or use apps such as SkinVision to perform self-check-ups. (Note this does not replace doctors’ advice, but may help to track changes. Always see a doctor if you’re unsure.)

One of the best ways to detect skin changes is to examine moles. These may be flat, raised, with or without hair, or darker during pregnancy. But they could also indicate melanoma.

How York Against Cancer is helping

Over the last few years we have committed to the national fight against skin cancer by funding crucial dermatoscopes for GPs. These hand-held devices allow GPs to take electronic photographs of patients’ moles before referring them to specialists. 

Local GP Dr Dan Cottingham said: “Dermatoscopes have helped us to develop a local life-saving project that has already improved waiting times for suspected skin cancer referrals.” When detected early, the five-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.

So far, we have invested £40,000 into the project, which has funded 57 dermatoscopes across the Vale of York. We’ve also partnered with local businesses such as Tancream, whose fake tan formula offers SPF. After almost losing her life to melanoma, founder Gillian Robson created the product, which is now helping to fund the equipment.