Experts Warn of Hidden Sunburn Dangers as UK Heatwave Triggers Amber Alert

  • 28/06/2025

London: As the UK braces for a scorching weekend under an amber heat health alert, health officials are urging people to take sun safety seriously to avoid unnecessary strain on the NHS and prevent long-term damage like skin cancer.

Dr Rachel Abbott, a skin cancer specialist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, explained that sunburn is more than just redness and pain — it’s a sign of permanent DNA damage caused by UV radiation, mainly UVB but also UVA. The inflammatory reaction that makes skin red and sore involves chemicals like histamines and prostaglandins responding to the injury.

While the surface may heal, the DNA damage is irreversible, and over time, the body’s natural repair mechanisms weaken. Repeated overexposure raises the risk of developing skin cancer — a threat that’s becoming more evident. Cancer Research UK estimates skin cancer cases have more than doubled since the early 1990s, predicting a record 20,800 cases in 2024. Experts partly attribute this to generations unaware of the risks when sunbathing during the 1960s holiday boom.

Currently, there’s no proven way to reverse DNA damage from sunburn, though new treatments are being researched. For now, prevention is key, Dr Abbott stressed. Contrary to common belief, sunscreen should be a last line of defence — seeking shade during peak UV hours, wearing protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses are far more effective.

People should check the UV index, not just the temperature, and avoid direct sun at midday when UV levels peak.

Macmillan Cancer Support echoes the advice, stressing proper sunscreen use: apply a broad-spectrum SPF 50, or at least SPF 30, and reapply regularly, especially after swimming or sweating. Adults should use six to eight teaspoons to cover the whole body — one teaspoon per arm and leg, plus one each for the chest, back, and head and neck.

Macmillan reminds the public: “There’s no such thing as a safe suntan.”

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