There is a need for public health advice on limiting exposure to UVR

NRPB report

Around 2,000 people die from skin cancer in Britain each year, making up 1.4% of all cancer deaths.

The skin and eye are the main tissues in the human body affected by UVR, but the immune system and the production of vitamin D can also be affected.

Short exposures to sunlight in normal daily life are sufficient to produce requirements of vitamin D. Longer exposure does not increase the benefit.

The NRPB report says: "There is a need for public health advice on limiting exposure to UVR and educational programmes should continue to aim at increasing awareness of the health effects."

The report also calls for weather forecasts in the summer to include predictions of UVR levels so that people can plan the protection they and their families need.

The NRPB is also calling for the continued development and use of science based criteria for assessing the protection offered by clothing and sunscreens.

'Overexposure'

The sun is the major source of UVR, but people can also be exposed to it through sunbeds, industrial lamps, arc welding and medical UVR therapies.

There are two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB.

UVB is the main cause of sunburn, while UVA is thought to cause skin ageing.

The report says children and teenagers in particular should be protected from overexposure to UVR because of evidence that greater exposure early in life may be associated with an increased risk of melanoma in adulthood.

People with a large number of moles (naevi), and people with fair and sensitive skins should also take care.

Keeping in the shade and wearing hats and loose-fitting clothing, the report says.

It recommends wide brimmed hats and sunglasses that exclude both direct and reflected UVR, provide the best protection for the eyes.

Defence

It adds a sunblock or sunscreen (at least factor 15) is the "third line of defence".

But it warns although correct use of sunscreens will prevent sunburn, users who stay in the sun too long will lose the protection they offer from UVR exposure.

Research published earlier this week suggested using a sunbed could increase the risk of developing a number of more common skin cancers.

There is some evidence that the most dangerous form of skin cancer, melanoma, is increased by sunbed use.

But research in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute linked sunbed use to Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are far more common than melanoma, but have very low mortality rates.