Most of us know the basics: apply SPF, reapply after swimming, keep children out of the midday sun. But sun safety goes further than preventing a burn on holiday.
Summer is one of the best times to take stock of what is happening with your skin. Changes that have been easy to ignore through the winter months become more visible, and with more skin on show, there is a natural opportunity to pay attention.
What you are actually looking for
The majority of changes to the skin are harmless. But some warrant a closer look. The ABCDE rule is a useful starting point for checking moles and lesions:
- A — Asymmetry: one half does not match the other
- B — Border: irregular, ragged or blurred edges
- C — Colour: uneven shading, multiple tones, or a change from how it looked before
- D — Diameter: larger than 6mm (roughly the size of a pencil eraser)
- E — Evolving: any change in size, shape or colour, or a new symptom like itching or bleeding
Change is the most important word here. A mole that has looked the same for twenty years is very different from one that has shifted in the last few months.
Do not overlook the less obvious areas
Skin checks are not just for the arms and shoulders. UV exposure accumulates on the scalp, ears, back of the neck, lips and tops of the feet — areas that are easy to miss during self-examination and rarely thought of until something appears.
Sun safety beyond the beach
UV radiation is present on overcast days, and at lower temperatures than most people expect. A cloudy July afternoon in Conwy still carries enough UV to cause damage over time.
A few habits that make a difference year-round:
- SPF 30 or higher on the face daily, not just on holiday
- Reapplying every two hours outdoors
- Protective clothing and shade between 11am and 3pm
- Sunglasses with UV400 protection
The value of a professional set of eyes
Self-checks are valuable, but a GP can assess anything you are unsure about with clinical accuracy, refer promptly if something needs further investigation, and give you genuine peace of mind rather than the ambiguous reassurance of a search engine.
Our Annual Health Assessment includes a review of any concerns you want to raise, including your skin. It is thorough, unhurried and entirely focused on you.
