Winter sun

Malignant melanoma incidence rates in Britain have more than quadrupled over the last thirty years. This is partly due to more people taking overseas holidays, exposing 'office skin' - under wraps much of the year - to a sudden burst of 'binge tanning'.

This kind of intense intermittent exposure can increase your risk of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

As well as increasing your risk of skin cancer, sunburn on holiday is painful, embarassing and can make you feel unattractive. Protect your skin from strong sunshine abroad by following our tips for a SunSmart trip.

Before you go:

• Choose your destination wisely - think carefully about beach holidays in sunny destinations if you have babies or very young children. In many popular destinations for winter sun the UV rays are much stronger than they are in the UK, so it’s even more important to protect your skin.
• Check the UV index to help you to calculate the intensity of the sun’s rays. Generally speaking, the higher the UV index, the higher your risk of sunburn. Short periods of intense exposure to strong sunlight (like you experience while sunbathing) can increase your risk of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

What to pack:

• Loose cotton clothing that will keep you cool and protect your skin.
• A sunhat to shade your face whilst on the beach or sightseeing.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• A beach umbrella or other shade structure - if you have room in your luggage!
• At least SPF 15 sunscreen that also offers protection against UVA rays - the more stars the better.

Whilst you're there:

• Work out the local solar noon. This is the middle point of the day between sunrise and sunset. The sun's rays will be strongest around this time so you will need to take extra care in the sun.
• Know the shadow rule. If your shadow is shorter than you are tall, take care to protect your skin from sunburn.
• Don't forget your hat, sunglasses and cover up clothing. This is particularly important if you're going to be out and about in the middle of the day.
• Put sunscreen on before you go outside. Keep a bottle with you at all times and top up regularly.
• Act like a local! Eat meals out of the sun and have a siesta or seek shade in the early afternoon.
• Take extra care with children - check out the 'Protecting children' section of the website for more tips.
• If you do get sunburnt then cover up and stay out of the sun completely. Drink plenty of fluids and see a pharmacist for advice.

Above all, remember to enjoy the sun safely. Don't let sunburn ruin your trip!

If you work in the tourism industry then take a look at our web pages for tour operators.