How to be SunSmart Common questions? Further information

Don’t let sunburn catch you out Is sunscreen all I need to protect myself About being SunSmart Whether you are at home or abroad, use from the sun? Visit Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart website Being SunSmart shade, clothing and at least factor 15 sunscreen No. Sunscreen does not give 100% protection www.sunsmart.org.uk can reduce to protect yourself from sunburn. and must be used along with other means of Check the UV index forecast for the UK and protection, such as clothing and shade. Never Spend time in the shade between 11 and 3 Europe by going to www.metoffice.gov.uk and your cancer risk use sunscreen as an excuse to stay out in the searching for UV index. The summer sun is most damaging to your sun for longer. skin in the middle of the day. Find shade under About cancer umbrellas, trees, canopies or indoors. Do we all need lots of sun to get enough For information about living with cancer visit vitamin D? www.cancerhelp.org.uk Cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses No. Vitamin D is used to build and maintain When the sun is at its strongest, sunscreen is strong bones. Our bodies need some sunshine If you want to talk in confidence about cancer, not enough. to make this vitamin. But fair-skinned people call our information nurses on freephone do not have to spend a lot of time in the sun 0808 800 4040. Use at least factor 15 sunscreen to make enough vitamin D. The amount of Choose a sunscreen that is at least factor 15 and For information about finding skin cancer early time it takes to make vitamin D is always less please see our ‘Detecting skin cancer’ leaflet. labelled ‘broad spectrum’. Use it generously and than the amount that leads to reddening or regularly to get the right amount of protection. burning of the skin. Order more leaflets Take extra care with children You can order our full range of leaflets free online Young skin is delicate. Keep babies out of the at www.cancerresearchuk.org/leaflets sun, especially around midday. Support Cancer Research UK Avoid sunbeds If you would like to support our work please call Sunbeds are not a safer alternative to tanning 020 7121 6699 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org in the sun. The intensity of some of the UV rays they give off can be 10-15 times higher than that of the midday sun.

Report unusual moles or skin changes to your doctor Finding skin cancer early saves lives.

May 2009 / ED089c Registered Charity Number 1089464

CRUK_SunSmart_DL.indd 1 28/05/2009 10:39 In this booklet you can find out about: • reducing your risk of skin cancer Know your The UV index When do I need • when you need to protect yourself skin type to protect myself ? • how to be SunSmart. The fairer your skin, the more careful you need The global solar ultraviolet index, or UV index, By knowing your skin type and using the UV Skin cancer is very common in the UK. Too to be in the sun. Knowing your skin type can help is a way of describing the strength of the sun’s index, you can work out when you need to much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun you work out when you need to protect yourself, rays at the earth’s surface. The higher the value, protect yourself from the sun. or sunbeds is the main cause of skin cancer. and what type of protection you might need. the greater the danger from the sun and the Experts identify six different skin types. Colour less time it takes to damage your skin. Skin Type By enjoying the sun safely, taking care not to I and II III and IV V VI burn and avoiding sunbeds, you can reduce and tone vary a lot within each skin type, but The UV index varies depending on where you 1 2 low low low low your risk of developing skin cancer. it is a useful guide. Match your hand colour to are in the world, the time of year, the weather, 3 4 medium low low low

the photo. Choose the description that most the time of day and how high up you are. It is UV Index high medium low low closely matches your hair and eye colour and not always highest when it is hottest. 5 high medium medium low Who is most at risk? what happens to your skin in strong sun. On a clear summer’s day in the UK, the UV index 6 very high high medium medium Some people are more likely than others to may reach 7 around midday, but it is rarely higher. 7 8 9 Type 1 high high medium Near the equator the UV index is often greater. 10 very high develop skin cancer. These people tend to Often burns, rarely tans. Tends to have one or more of the following: have freckles, red or fair hair, blue Between October and March in the UK, the UV Low Risk: • fair skin that tends to burn in strong sun or green eyes. index is normally lower than 3, so even people with fair skin do not need to protect themselves. No protection needed. • red or fair hair Type II You can check today’s UV index forecast for • lots of moles or freckles Usually burns, sometimes tans. Tends different parts of the UK and Europe at the Medium risk: • a personal or family history of skin cancer to have light hair, blue or brown eyes. Met Office websitewww.metoffice.gov.uk Take care around midday and do not spend too long in the sun unprotected. • a history of sunburn. Type I1I Sometimes burns, usually tans. Tends High risk: to have brown hair and eyes. Cover up and spend time in the shade What is sunburn? between 11 and 3. Use at least factor 15 Type IV Sunburn does not have to be raw, peeling or sunscreen on exposed skin. blistering. If your skin has gone red in the sun, Rarely burns, often tans. Tends to Very high risk: it is sunburnt. have dark brown eyes and hair. Be sure to cover up and stay in the shade Type V between 11 and 3. And use at least factor 15 Naturally brown skin. Often has sunscreen. If your skin goes pink or red after dark brown eyes and hair. time in the sun then you need to do more to

protect your skin. Type VI Naturally brown-black skin. Usually has black-brown eyes and hair.

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