Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and accounts for one in three cancer diagnoses.
An estimated 66,000 deaths occur every year from melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer - yet four out of every five cases are curable.
It's the third most common cancer in young adults aged 15-34 and the incidence of melanoma is set to rise by 50 per cent by the year 2030. Exposure to UV rays is a major cause of skin cancer, but it's not reserved for hot, sunny countries, as more people die from skin cancer in the UK than in Australia.
Here are a few top tips to keep safe in the sun:
- slip on a T-shirt - choose a light fitted T-shirt for best protection
- slap on sun cream - SPF15 gives moderate protection from UV rays. The higher the factor, the better the protection
- slop on a hat - choose a wide-brimmed hat to cover your ears and the back of the neck
- seek some shade - remember, the sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm
- slide on sunglasses - look out for the CE mark for best protection.
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