Soaring skin cancer cases hit a record high – Cancer Research UK

Protecting your skin

“Whether you’re holidaying abroad or enjoying the good weather closer to home, it’s important to take steps to reduce your risk of skin cancer, especially if you burn easily,” says Dr Julie Sharp, Head of health and patient information at Cancer Research UK.  

Anyone can develop skin cancer and getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple the risk. 

The damage to skin cells caused by sunburn can last beyond the moments of pain and irritation. It can build up over time and increase cancer risk. So, protecting your skin, even if you’ve been sunburnt before, can make a big difference. 

Looking at the weather’s UV index can tell us how strong the sun’s UV rays are – which can be seen on any weather website or app. The higher the value, the greater risk of sunburn and the less time it can take to damage your skin. 

Sunburn doesn’t just happen abroad or during summer holidays. The sun in the UK is often strong enough to burn or damage skin even when it’s cloudy. 

“It’s important to take care in the sun and to contact your GP if you notice any unusual changes to your skin – it’s not just changes to a mole that matter, it could be a sore that doesn’t heal or any unusual changes to an area of your skin. Spotting cancer early can make all the difference,” says Mitchell.