Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds is the main cause of skin cancer. The sun is often strong enough to cause skin damage between mid-March and mid-October in the UK, even when it’s cloudy or cool.
So, here’s how to be safe in the sun and protect your skin from damage.
You know best how your skin reacts to the sun. You should take more care in the sun to avoid sunburn if you have:
Remember, sunburn is not always peeling skin. For people with darker skin tones, your skin might feel tender or itchy. For people with lighter skin tones, it might also go red or pink.
A bit of sun can help our bodies to make vitamin D, which is important for things like healthy bones.
Whatever your skin tone, there’s no need to sunbathe or risk sunburn to get vitamin D.
The UV index tells you how strong the sun’s rays are. The risk of sunburn increases as the UV level goes up.
If it’s 3 (moderate) or higher, think about protecting your skin, especially if you get sunburnt easily. You can still burn when it is cloudy or cool.
You can find the UV index on weather forecasts on TV and phone apps.
The UV index
When your shadow is shorter than you, it means the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest.
This is when you’re more likely to burn and need to think about protecting your skin.
Be sun safe by using these three methods together:
That’s why we’re supporting people to reduce their cancer risk.
Our information guides you through the changes you can make and are based on quality research carried out over many years.
You can find out more about UV and cancer at cruk.org/sun
If you’re thinking about making changes to improve your health and reduce your cancer risk, get information and tips at cruk.org/health
Speak to a nurse for advice or support on our free Nurse Helpline. Just call 0808 800 4040
If you have any questions about Cancer Research UK or would like to support our work, call 0300 123 1022
Ref: ED089C_MOB
Created on: September 2023
Due for review by: September 2026
© Cancer Research UK 2024