FACT: A tan is evidence of damaged skin, and leads to premature ageing of the skin.

FACT: Skin cancer is now the most common cancer in Great Britain - over 46,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, 6,000 of which are malignant melanoma, and 2,000 people die from it each year.

FACT: A history of sunburn in childhood is associated with an increased risk of developing skin cancer in later life.

FACT: Doctors think that at least four out of five cases of skin cancer could be prevented if people took simple steps to reduce their sun exposure.

(Source: Department of Health)

These are scary statistics. Most of us love sunshine - it lifts our spirits and makes us feel good, but the well-publicised risks of unprotected over-exposure to the sun's UV rays cannot be ignored. The good news is that, provided we all take care and follow the SunSmart Code the risks of suffering the long term side effects of being out in the sun can be greatly reduced.

The Sunsmart Safety Code

• AVOID THE SUN AT ITS HEIGHT
• TAKE CARE NEVER TO BURN
• USE SHADE WHEREVER POSSIBLE: TREES, UMBRELLAS ETC
• TAKE EXTRA SPECIAL CARE OF BABIES' AND CHILDREN'S DELICATE SKIN
• WEAR A WIDE BRIMMED HAT AND SUNGLASSES WITH UV PROTECTION
• COVER UP WITH TIGHTLY WOVEN, LOOSE FITTING CLOTHES: LONG SLEEVES, TROUSERS ANS SKIRTS
• ALWAYS USE A BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN (SPF 15 OR HIGHER) WITH UVA PROTECTION, EVEN IF YOU HAVE A TAN
• CHECK YOUR SKIN REGULARLY AND REPORT ANY UNUSUAL CHANGES WITHOUT ANY DELAY

Sun Protection Clothing

There is now a wide range of clothing specifically designed to offer high levels of protection from the sun's harmful rays, from sun hats and trousers, to shirts, scuba and bathing suits and body suits for young children. These are available from many High Street shops. Oxfordshire Trading Standards recently carried out a survey into the claims made for these sorts of garments, and the results were very good - all but one garment tested met the claims made by their manufacturers. Even the one that failed still offered "very good" protection.

Look for garments that offer a 'high' or 'very high' level of sun, or UPF, protection - some give you a UPF of over 50, the same as a Factor 50 sunscreen (see below).

Sunglasses

Recently, Trading Standards in Oxfordshire surveyed the effectiveness of sunglasses in protecting against UV rays. 50 sunglasses were tested, ranging in price from 50p to £30, and 49 passed the test. Interestingly, the one that failed was not the cheapest! Again, this is good news for consumers. Make sure the glasses comply with BS 2724, and seek the advice of your retailer or optician - ideally, sunglasses should offer at least 95% UV protection - look for 'wraparound' styles for even more protection.

Sunscreen

The first line of defence against the sun should be shade seeking, and wearing protective clothing and brimmed hats. But you can still catch the sun in the shade as UV rays are reflected off pale surfaces. Using sunscreen or suncream, in addition to these other measures, will increase the protection available. Sunscreen is widely available in a huge price range, and with a bewildering array of SPF (Sun Protection Factors) and UVA star ratings. What do they do, and what should you look for in a sunscreen?

The sun's ultraviolet rays can broadly be split into two categories - UVB rays which cause tanning, burning and blistering and some types of skin cancers, and UVA, which penetrates deeper into the body, causing ageing and cancer. The SPF number on a bottle of sunscreen tells you the amount of protection against UVB the product affords. Remember, the higher the number, the greater the protection. The UVA star rating tells you the level of protection against these types of ray - again, the more stars, the more the protection, 4 stars currently being the highest available.

Do remember that HOW THE SUNSCREEN IS APPLIED will affect how well it performs.

• Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outside.
• Put enough on - use a good dollop in your hand and apply re-apply frequently.
• Sweat and water will reduce the protection, so re-apply after swimming and through the day.
• Surfaces such as sand and snow, and light coloured buildings, will reflect the sun back at you - you may think you are in the shade and don't need sunscreen, but you probably do.
• Wear a hat, and try to avoid the sun during the middle of the day (between 11 am - 3 pm) when it is at its strongest.
• Sunscreens don't last forever. Store out of sunlight, and don't keep for more than a couple of years.
• Don't assume that you are free from risk just because you've used sunscreen - treat it as extra protection, but avoid prolonged exposure to the sun too!