Sun damage: Why we're all still in the dark

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A new survey has revealed that many of us still don't slap on the factor 30 when the sun comes out

Why is sun damage in the news?

More than two-thirds of us will risk damaging our skin this summer by either using the wrong suncream, or no protection at all, according to a new poll.

The survey by Afterburn Sunburn Rescue Gel also discovered that 9 out of 10 people have experienced painful sunburn while in the UK.

Surely people know we need to wear suncream now?

Worryingly, 4 in 10 of us only head for cover from the sun once we have turned red, according to the poll. And possibly even more concerning is that a quarter of people deliberately go outside without suncream on in order to get a better tan.

The results show that the message about the dangers of sun damage still hasn't reached many people.

Remind us again what we should be doing

Experts recommend slapping on cream with a minimum SPF of 15 and avoiding being outside at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm.

How about if you stay in this country?

The same rules apply. Dr John Ashworth, NHS Consultant Dermatologist, says: 'People must appreciate that they don't need to go overseas on holiday to get sunburnt.' But the survey revealed that 43% of people only think they need to use sun cream when they're abroad.

So what are the risks?

The most obvious risk is that your skin will go red and start to blister. 'Sunburn is effectively a radiation burn,' says Dr Ashworth, 'with prolonged exposure to the sun causing skin to overheat and become red and painful.' Amazingly, 35% of people polled in the survey didn't realise that sunburn means their skin has been damaged.

Long term, repeated sunburn can lead to sunspots or skin cancer like melanoma. Your skin will also age earlier than people who have avoided the sun.

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