People urged not to leave their house without one item

People in the UK are urged to take precautions when leaving the house during the next seven months, including keeping one particular item with them when outside. Despite mild, often cloudy weather in early spring and autumn, conditions can still be strong enough to cause damage, experts claim.

Specialists from Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists suggest that people should take sun safety precautions between March and October – including applying suncream and keeping a bottle with them so they can reapply when necessary. These months are when the UV Index can reach three or higher, which is when people should take measures to protect themselves from the harmful effects before they happen.

The UV Index measures the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It ranges from a score of one to an ‘extreme’ rating of 11 – with higher scores often meaning there is a greater need for skin and eye protection.

Specialists from Which? explained: “Temperatures may still be relatively chilly, so you might not feel the signs on your skin, but the UV Index is already registering readings of three or four by spring, which the Met Office says should prompt you to seek shade during midday hours, cover up, and wear sunscreen.

“There’s also a biological and atmospheric reason April can be surprisingly ‘burn‑y’. According to the UK Health Security Agency, occasional springtime ‘low ozone’ events over the northern hemisphere can let more UVB through than usual for the time of year.

“Because ozone filters out much of the burning UVB, these episodes can mean that, on a clear day in April, your skin may get more burning UV than you’d expect – sometimes rivalling what you might get on a hazy high-summer day.” While clouds block some UV, more than 90% can still pass through light clouds and cause sunburn.

Light or thin clouds may even enhance UV levels by a process called scattering. When the UK sees scores of three or higher, people are generally advised to take some precautions.

The NHS also backs this “March to October” advice, and claims people need to be most vigilant between 11am and 3pm. A spokesperson for the service claimed that Brits need to “strike a balance” between protecting themselves from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.

They added: “Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.”

What are the best precautions to take?

One of the most common ways to reduce sun damage is to apply sunscreen. However, people should not assume that an old bottle from last summer is still safe to use.

Which? wrote: “Sunscreen generally lasts for one or two years after opening, so check the icon of a circular pot with an open lid that you’ll find on the back of the bottle to see what timeframe applies. Replace it with a newer bottle if necessary, as there’s no guarantee the active ingredients will still work optimally if it’s past its best.”

Ensure that sunscreen is applied to all exposed areas, with prime burning hotspots being the nose, ears, the back of the neck and shoulders, and the scalp. Areas that don’t typically get much sun, such as the soles of your feet or the backs of your knees, are also vulnerable.

The NHS added on its website that people should never settle for just sunscreen when trying to protect their skin from the sun. A spokesperson said: “Do not rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from the sun. Wear suitable clothing and spend time in the shade when the sun’s at its hottest.”