The incidence of skin cancer in the UK has significantly increased in recent years. There are now over 40,000 new cases and nearly 2,000 deaths from skin cancer in the UK each year. Much of this increase has been attributed to overexposure to sunlight not only when abroad but also sunbathing at home. In one recent study in Scotland, a third of malignant melanoma patients had never been abroad, but they had sunbathed at home.

NRPB has produced a Sunsense guide:

• Take sensible precautions to avoid sunburn, particularly in children.

• Remember that a suntan offers only modest protection against further exposure. It is not an indication of good health.

• Limit unprotected personal exposure to solar radiation, particularly during the four hours around midday, even in the UK.

• Seek shade, but remember sunburn can occur even when in partial shade or when cloudy.

• Remember that overexposure of skin and eyes can occur while swimming and is more likely when there is a high level of reflected UVR, such as from snow and sand.

• Wear suitable headwear, such as a wide-brimmed hat, to reduce exposure to the face, eyes, head and neck.

• Cover skin with clothing giving good protection — for example loose clothing with a close weave.

• Sunglasses should exclude both direct and peripheral exposure of the eye to UVR, i.e. be of a wrap around design.

• Apply sunblocks, or broadband sunscreens with high sun protection factors (at least SPF 15) to exposed skin. Apply generously and reapply frequently, especially after activities that remove them, such as swimming or towelling.

• Remember that certain individuals have abnormal skin responses to UVR and may need medical help. Certain prescribed drugs, medicines, foods, cosmetics and plant materials can also make people more sensitive to sunlight.

Overall there is a need for greater awareness of the hazards of UVR, to take sensible precautions and to seek early medical advice about abnormal moles or other sudden skin changes. Every day, data on the potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the Sun is available for the UK on the NRPB website. The regularly updated NRPB UVR data should help the UK public decide on the protection levels required. See http //www. nrpb.org/radiation topics/ultraviolet/uv data/index.htm

The issue was discussed at the Board meeting today. Sir William Stewart, Chairman of NRPB, emphasised that such information must be easily and readily available to the general public at the start of the holiday season, and congratulated NRPB staff on the work that they were doing in this important area of public health protection.

Further information about protection from UVR can be found on the NRPB website at:

http : //www. nrpb.org/understand/sunsense/sunsense . htm

Please feel free to copy this for your patients
David Roberts
7/6/03