Keeping safe in the sun – Sun Awareness week (9th -16th May 2016)

4 minute read time.

As summer approaches (the forecast for this weekend is hot and sunny!), and as part of Sun Awareness week next week, here’s one of our information development nurses Hilary with a quick reminder about taking care of your skin in the sun. Plus some extra tips if you’re having or have had cancer treatment.

Know the skin you’re in

No one knows better than you how your skin copes in the sun. So if you’re going to be spending time outside, bear this in mind and plan accordingly.

If you have light skin, freckles and fair or red hair, you probably already know how quickly your skin can sunburn. But even if you have naturally darker skin, be aware of how your skin behaves in the sun. Remember, there’s no such thing as a safe tan. If your skin goes pink or red in the sun, it’s getting damaged. If you have darker skin, watch for your skin getting hot in the sun and then staying hot after - rather than going red.

Some cancer treatments can make your skin very sensitive. If you’ve had chemotherapy or targeted therapies you may sunburn more easily and you’ll need to be a bit more careful. If you’ve had radiotherapy the skin in the treated area may sunburn faster. Your cancer doctor can give advice about any treatments you’re having. You can also read more in our information about taking care in the sun.

Know your environment

The sun’s strength (or UV levels) varies depending on

  • the time of year
  • the time of day
  • weather conditions
  • how high up you are (altitude)
  • how close to the equator you are.

In other words, if you’re up Snowdon at noon on a blazing summer’s day, beware! But a drizzly evening autumn stroll through Glasgow? Not so much.

In the UK the sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm from March to October. The Met Office website gives daily UV information. But in countries closer to the equator or at higher altitudes your sunburn risk will be higher. And remember, clouds don’t cut out the sun’s rays altogether. You can still get sunburn on a cold, overcast day.

Know your sun safety tools (and how to use them)

After cancer, some people worry about spending time in the sun. This is natural, especially if you’ve been affected by a cancer linked to sun exposure, such as melanoma or other skin cancers. There’s no need to avoid the sun altogether. But it’s sensible to think carefully about your skin type and your environment. Then you can plan ahead to look after your skin properly.

Whether you’ve had cancer treatment or not, these tools can help you stay safe.

Shade – make the most of shady spots, especially when the sun is strongest in the middle of the day. Remember, you can be under shade but still catch the sun reflecting off water, snow or concrete. 

Clothing – cover up with a hat that shades your face, neck and ears and a good pair of sunglasses. Wear long sleeve tops and trousers or long skirts. Close-weave fabrics give the best protection. Skin that’s not usually in the sun is most likely to burn. So take extra care with your back, shoulders and tummy. And if you’ve had radiotherapy, cover up the treated area of skin carefully.

Sunscreen – slapping on the sunscreen isn’t an alternative to covering up. But it can give you extra protection.

Make sure you use the right sunscreen, plenty of it and on all skin that’s getting the sun. It’s best to use one that has the letters “UVA” in a circle logo (this means it meets minimum standards for protection against UVA sun rays) and is at least “factor/SPF 15” (to protect from UVB sun rays).

Follow the instructions on the bottle. If you’re exercising or swimming, a water-resistant sunscreen can help. But remember to re-apply straight after being in the water, sweating or drying yourself with a towel.

Where can I find more information?

The British Association of Dermatologists provides information about Sun Awareness week.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published new guidance about Sunlight exposure: risks and benefits in February 2016.

To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.

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