The heat of the sun doesn’t come from its skin-damaging UV rays.

UV rays are strongest when the sun is highest in the sky. If you want to head outside and enjoy the good weather best to do it when the sun’s rays are lower, and the risk of burning won’t be as high.

The sun can be strong enough to burn at other times of the year too.

The UV Index can tell you how strong the sun is where you are today, and you can find it on weather forecasts and online. If the UV Index is 3 or above think about protecting your skin.

Skin doesn’t necessarily peel, but if it has turned red or pink in the sun, that’s sunburn, and it’s dangerous due to the damage the UV rays cause to DNA inside cells.

If your skin goes pink but then a tan develops that still counts as a burn. However, you can’t always see the damage. Those with naturally darker skin might just feel irritated, tender or itchy skin rather than see a color change.

Getting a sunburn doesn’t mean you will definitely go on to develop skin cancer, but even one every 2 years can triple the risk of melanoma.

If you have been sunburnt in the past, think about what you can do to protect your skin next time.

No sunscreen is 100% effective and choosing a higher SPFs doesn’t add much extra protection.

In fact, it might even encourage you to spend longer in the sun than you should. Choose a minimum of SPF 15 and make sure your sunscreen has 4 stars or more for UVA protection.

Some people think getting a tan before they go on holiday, from the sun or a sunbed, will protect them from burning once they arrive at their destination.

However, a tan offers very little protection against the sun. Some studies have found that tans only offer protection equivalent to using factor 3 sunscreen, and tans from sunbeds could be as low as SPF 1. So make sure you apply minimum SPF 15 sunscreen.

Once is not enough, even if it says once-a-day on the label. All sunscreens should be re-applied regularly, and some products rub, wash or sweat off more easily than others.

It’s also really easy to miss parts of your body so put plenty on; regular applications will help ensure you’ve got everywhere covered.

There is no such thing as a safe tan, and the evidence is clear: sunbeds cause skin cancer.

A tan is a sign that your body is trying to repair the damage caused by UV rays.

Nearly all of us hang on to bottles of sunscreen left over from previous holidays, but when you’re packing for your next one check if it is still safe to use, as most sunscreens go out of date.

To check look out for a small open jar icon on the bottle, which will show the number of months the product can be used for after opening.

And if you do need to replace your sunscreen don’t worry about buying the most expensive — it’s the SPF and star rating that is important, not the price.

Being indoors means you are mostly protected from sunburn, but some UV rays can get through glass.

If you spend lots of time driving or sitting in a conservatory when the sun is strong, then long-term you might be at risk of damage from UVA rays. If sitting by a window you can protect your skin with clothes and sunscreen with 4 or more stars.

Text: AFP News