Summer is the perfect time to get outside, top up your vitamin D levels and enjoy those all-important (and rare) rays of sunshine! However, it’s also incredibly important that you do so safely. With this in mind, here are 5 quick tips to ensure that you can enjoy the sun while simultaneously caring for your skin.

Know your UVs!

Most people don't know that here are three types of UV radiation from the sun:

UVA – Think Ageing! UVA radiation penetrates deep into the skin, causing immediate tanning, premature ageing and certain types of skin cancers.

UVB – Think Burning! UVB is responsible for causing delayed tanning effects, sunburn as well as most skin cancers.

UVC – While this type of radiation is very dangerous, it's filtered out by the ozone layer prior to reaching the earth.

Go Broad!

When looking for a sun cream to protect you from the sun's rays, look for one that contains at least an 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor) and also the words “broad spectrum” which means that it will protect you against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Use it properly!

Now that you’ve got yourself a broad spectrum sun cream, it’s important to use it properly. Make sure to apply it at least half an hour before heading out in to the sun as your skin needs time to absorb it properly. From then onwards, you'll need to reapply your sun cream every 2 hours in order to keep skin protected and even more so if you're swimming or sweating.

Cover up!

Protect your face and décolletage with a wide brimmed sun hat (look for a brim that's at least 3 inches wide). When choosing clothing, choose items that have a tightly woven fabric such as nylon or polyester. Fabrics with a more open weave, such as cotton or silk, will allow more UV rays to pass through and are therefore best avoided when in direct sunlight.

If in doubt, see your GP!

If you notice anything unusual about your skin, make sure to see your GP ASAP. Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless - but not always. Look for the ABCDE signs of melanoma and if one or more applies, get them checked immediately:

A - Assymetry. Is it asymmetrical?

B - Border. Does it have a rough or uneven border?

C - Colour. Is it more than one colour?

D - Diameter. Is it larger than 6mm in diameter?

E - Enlarged. Has it become enlarged or raised?