The suns rays, called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB), will damage your skin causing wrinkles and possibly cancer. Burning is something you want to avoid altogether, but don't be fooled; tanning over long periods of time is not great either. In fact, tanning is said to be your skins desperate attempt to protect itself from the suns harmful rays.



Skin cancer is one of the most popular forms of cancer in the UK. According to a recent report there are over 75,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, which is almost three times the number from 1980. 2,300 or more people die each year from skin cancer.

There are two types of skin cancer, one is called malignant melanoma and the other is called non-melanoma. The first is much more serious and the second is more common and easily treatable.

Although you can get skin damage anywhere, the legs and arms are at the most risk places. You will want to check moles for irregularities such as color change or a change in its size or texture. The earlier you catch a symptom the more likely it is to treat.

They are now saying the best protection is staying out of direct sunlight especially at noon, or wearing clothes and hats if you are in the sun for any length of time.

But we all like sun, so you can also wear good quality sunscreen with a Sun Protector Factor (SPF) of at least 15. With an SPF of 15, that allows a person who would usually burn in 10 minutes, 150 minutes until they burn. So the number 15 stands for 15 times normal burning time.

You can choose between organic and non-organic sunscreen . Non-organic or inorganic scatters UV light using zinc or titanium oxides. Organic sunscreens absorb the UV rays and use photoprotective molecules to protect your skin.

Some sun is need and is actually very good for you, but we need to be a little smarter this summer and not spend the whole day in direct sunlight without protection.

For more on sun and its harmful rays go to Cancer Research UK .