UV Protection: Year-Round Skin Safety

Up to 80% of the sun's UV rays pass through cloud, so skin damage builds up even on a grey day in Blackpool. UVA rays age the skin and are present all year round; UVB rays cause sunburn, peak in summer and drive most skin cancers.

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 with a UVA rating of four stars or more. Most people apply less than half the amount the SPF rating assumes, so be generous, and reapply every two hours outdoors or straight after swimming.

Some medicines make skin more sensitive to the sun, including the antibiotic doxycycline, some diuretics and several acne treatments. If you take regular medication, check with us before a beach holiday.

Keep an eye on your moles using the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter over 6mm and Evolution, meaning any change over time. A changing mole should always be looked at promptly.

Off somewhere sunny? Our travel clinic can cover sun care advice alongside your vaccinations, and we stock a full range of sun protection in store.