Staying safe in the sun

At the beach

When there is a strong sea breeze blowing, it’s easy not to notice the strength of the sun. Even if it's cloudy, protect yourself from harmful UV rays by using a suncream with a high protection factor. Reapply it every couple of hours and don't forget to protect your ears, lips, hair parting and the tip of your nose with sunblock.

Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm when the rays are at their most damaging.

Sunburn

Exposure to the sun can lead to premature ageing and skin cancer. However the greatest risk comes not from gently developing a tan but episodes of intense exposure that result in sunburn. To avoid it, make sure you:

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and loose clothing
• Choose sunglasses with UV filters to protect your eyes
• Be careful about how long you stay in the sun and don’t stay out for prolonged periods
• Always use suncream, especially on areas not usually exposed to the sun such as behind the knees as these are especially vulnerable to burning
• Protect children and babies from direct sunlight - apply a suncream with SPF25 or higher, and make sure they wear hats and long sleeves
• Keep babies under 12 months out of the sun

Sunstroke

Overheating can cause sunstroke or heatstroke. To avoid its effects:

• Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day
• Take frequent breaks to rest in the shade
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to balance the loss of body fluid through perspiration

Prickly heat

This irritable red rash occurs when someone sweats more than usual, often because of excessive heat, but the tubes that drain their sweat glands (the sweat ducts) are blocked and the sweat cannot drain properly from the skin. Instead the sweat is forced into the tissues of the skin, causing inflammation.

Prickly heat can be controlled by taking tepid showers and dabbing the affected areas with calamine lotion. Wear loose-fitting clothing to help reduce irritation.

Once your body has acclimatised to the heat, the rash should settle down.