UK charity the British Skin Foundation (BSF) has introduced its ‘More, More, More’ sun safety campaign.
As part of the campaign, the BSF has outlined three steps to educate the public and help fight skin cancer. ‘MORE protective clothing’ highlights the need to cover up exposed skin with UPF clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection. ‘MORE sunscreen’ informs the public to use SPF 30 or above on exposed skin and reapply at least every two hours or after swimming or sweating. ‘MORE shade’ directs the public to seek shade between 11am-3pm when UV index is highest.
The launch of the campaign follows a UK survey conducted by the BSF in May which reported 51% of the 250 people surveyed had accidentally sunburned themselves, despite 81% claiming sun safety precautions are important to them. The survey also revealed 24% found sunscreen labels confusing, 18% did not understand how the SPF rating works and 16% were unsure of how often to apply or reapply sunscreen.
Consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson Dr Anjali Mahto said, “As we head into the summer months, it’s vital that people take sun safety seriously. We know that melanoma skin cancer has the potential to kill. More protective clothing, more sunscreen and more shade can help prevent damage to the skin that may cause problems in later life. It’s never too late to start protecting your skin.”
