Summer sun safety | News and events

During the summer, NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is urging everyone to stay protected and look after themselves and others during the sunny weather.

Fiona Head, Medical Director at NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, said: " Many of us enjoy the warm, sunny weather but it's important to enjoy the sun safely and protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful rays. Even on a cloudy day the sun’s rays can be very powerful, so it’s important that even when it's cloudy you still take precautions from the sun.”

To enjoy the sun safely the best option is to keep covered but when that’s not possible sunscreen of at least SPF30 and at least at least 4-star UVA protection should be applied to all exposed areas and reapplied regularly. Even on days which are not hot but just warm and sunny, sunscreen should be used. On hotter days stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm – this is the time that people are at most risk of getting burnt.

Fiona added: “Getting sunburnt is something which can happen really easily, but getting sunburnt increases your risk of skin cancer. People who spend a lot of time in the sun, whether it's for work or play, are at increased risk of skin cancer if they do not take the right precautions. It might feel like getting sunburnt is something that only happens on holiday but even on cloudy days in the UK you can get burnt.”

For more information about staying safe in the sun, visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/