Residents are being advised to follow precautions such as regularly applying sun-cream, spending time in the shade, and wearing UV protective clothing.
Sussex residents are being reminded of the importance of staying safe in the sun to avoid a greater risk of developing skin cancer.
With temperatures hitting highs of 28 degrees in some areas of the county over the weekend, many people have been out and about enjoying the sunshine.
The NHS and Cancer Alliance have been urging people to remember the power of the sun and the harm it can cause.
Dr Jo Thomson, Primary Care Lead at Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance, explained the risk people face if they don’t protect themselves from the sun.
“I think the most important thing is that we realise that the sun in this country is really quite strong. I think we’re at a bit of a false illusion that the sun in the UK is not as harmful as elsewhere."
“The key messages are to protect both yourself but also your children from the sun, particularly during really peak hours of about 11am to 3pm when the sun is at its most hot and the UV rays at the most damaging.”
Dr Thomson highlighted the importance of regularly applying sun-cream, spending time in the shade, and wearing UV protective clothing such as a hat.
“In Sussex we’ve had over 1,600 people diagnosed with skin cancer over the last year, and nine out of 10 of these could have been avoided by taking precautions. More than five sunburns in your lifetime, doubles your risk of skin cancer.”
She also advised that people should ensure they check their skin regularly and get anything unusual checked by their doctor.
The public are recommended to use the A, B, C, D, E checklist when looking for symptoms: asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, evolving.
“Melanomas particularly tend to have one or more colours, they may have different shades like brown or mixed with black, red, pink, white, or bluish tint to some of them. Skin cancers are often a bit bigger than the moles surrounding them.”
People with any concerns regarding an unusual change in their skin are recommended to see a doctor immediately.
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