Damage to our skin from the sun is the number one cause of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. The good news is that up to 9 in 10 cases can be prevented by being safe in the sun. But men in particular still aren’t getting it right with recent insight showing less than a quarter of UK men protect themselves in the sun.1
NIVEA Sun have teamed up with Cancer Research UK to ask men ‘What will it take for you to be more sun safe?’ Let’s start by debunking myths about sun safety.
1. The odd sunburn doesn’t make a difference
This is something I hear a lot but unfortunately, it does. Skin damage from the sun builds up over time – and it doesn’t go away after the burn fades. So every burn counts, but on the flipside, every time you protect yourself also counts. If you’re thinking you’ve been sunburnt before so the damage is already done, that’s not the case, it’s even more reason to be sun safe in the future.
2. A tan will protect me from sunburn
People with naturally darker skin tones have a lower risk of skin cancer than people with lighter skin tones. But going out and getting a base tan before your holiday won’t protect you! Research has shown that a tan offers about the same amount of protection as factor 3 sunscreen.
3. The UK sun isn’t strong enough for sunburn
A quarter of men surveyed who had previously not protected themselves from the sun said this was because they did not feel the sun was strong enough in the UK, and a third of men believe the sun is strongest when it’s hottest. In fact, the sun can be strong enough in the UK between mid-March and mid-October to burn you. You’re most likely to get burnt in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest point, not necessarily its hottest. And remember, you can burn through clouds!
4. Sun safety uses up time that could be spent doing something more fun
In my 20 years of experience, I’ve found this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s not something that stops you enjoying yourself but instead it allows you to continue to enjoy the things you do so often – whether that’s playing golf, watching cricket or spending time with your family.
5. You only need to apply sunscreen once a day
One final, and important, myth I want to debunk is that you can just apply sunscreen in the morning and then spend your entire day outside in the sun. While it’s great that people are using sunscreen, we need to make sure we are using it in the right way. Over a third of men believe that sunscreen is enough protection from the sun. But we all need to remember it’s only part of the picture.
Take action
Now we’ve cleared that up, here are 3 simple steps we can all take to protect ourselves from the sun, and not just when we are on holiday in a different country, but right here in the UK.
1. Seek Shade - Especially between 11am and 3pm in the UK. Take a break under trees, umbrellas, canopies or go indoors.
2. Cover Up - With clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and UV protection sunglasses. Clothing should cover your shoulders. The more skin that’s covered by your clothing, the better the protection.
3. Apply Sunscreen - With at least SPF15 and 4 or 5 stars. Make sure to reapply it regularly and generously, especially after swimming, sweating, or towelling.
One last tip from me – you’re not bothering your doctor by booking an appointment if you spot anything on your skin or nails that is unusual for you or have a concern, we want to hear about it. If we can diagnose cancer earlier, it may mean you need less treatment. It really does make a difference.
[1] Survey of 2000 men aged 18+, representative of the UK population; fieldwork conducted April 2022 by Opinium.
