What People Get Wrong About Sun Protection
Sun Protection: what people commonly get wrong, set against what published UK guidance says.
Most skin cancers are linked to UV exposure, and sunburn in childhood raises melanoma risk for life.
Key takeaways
- Recommended sunscreen: at least SPF 30 and 4-star or 5-star UVA
- Reapplication: every 2 hours, and after swimming or towelling
- Most useful single change: Use shade and clothing first; sunscreen is the last line, not the first.
- Commonest mistake: Sunbeds, in any amount.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What the guidance actually says
The numbers first, since the corrections only mean something against them.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Recommended sunscreen | at least SPF 30 and 4-star or 5-star UVA |
| Reapplication | every 2 hours, and after swimming or towelling |
| Strongest UV in the UK | 11am to 3pm, March to October |
| Sunbeds | raise skin cancer risk and are not a safe alternative |
Where people go wrong
Each of these is common, and each is a mistake in the sense that the guidance says otherwise.
- Sunbeds, in any amount
- Relying on sunscreen alone to stay out longer
- Assuming cloud or a cool day means low UV
What to do instead
- Use shade and clothing first; sunscreen is the last line, not the first
- Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours
- Protect children particularly carefully; sunburn then matters for life
- Take vitamin D in autumn and winter rather than seeking sun for it
The part that is genuinely uncertain
Guidance changes, and it changes because evidence does. The figures above reflect current UK guidance from the bodies named at the foot of this page; where those bodies revise their position, theirs is the account to follow rather than this one.
Where to go next
- Sun Protection: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Understanding Sun Protection: A Plain-English Explainer
- Sun Protection — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Eczema, Without the Hype
- Acne: What Published Guidance Supports
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP promptly about a mole that is changing in size, shape or colour, has an irregular edge or more than one colour, is itching, bleeding or crusting, or looks different from your others. Also report any sore that has not healed in four weeks.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
