Golden rules to protect yourself in the sun

• Always wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher applied to any area of your body you cannot protect from the sun with clothing. Clothing should be made from tightly woven fabric;
• Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before being exposed to the sun, and reapplied regularly, and always after swimming;
• Wear a wide brimmed hat that will protect the back of your neck and ears, and a loose fitting long-sleeved top;
• Remember that UV radiation is at its highest in the middle of the day, from 11-3pm, so try to avoid the sun during these hours and stay in the shade;
• Wear wraparound sunglasses or goggles that meet recommended standards – these block 95 per cent of UV radiation that can damage eyes and cause cataracts. For safety reasons, sunglasses for children should have plastic instead of glass lenses.
• Ideally, keep children under the age of 3 out of the sun at all times.

It is particularly important for children and young people to take care in the sun. One reason is that babies’ and young children’s skin is naturally more delicate and prone to damage from the sun’s rays – a baby can get sunburnt in as little as 10-15 minutes even on a cloudy day.

The good news is that by following these rules you receive double protection: keeping your skin staying younger and smoother, as well as reducing the risk of developing skin cancer.  But if you still spend some time soaking up the rays, make sure you take extra care of your skin after being in the sun.