It’s important to remember how fierce the sun can be in our part of the world at this time of year and here are some useful reminders about  the sun’s harsh rays.

*New Zealand has the highest rate of melanoma skin cancer in the world.

*Over recent years, the number of people dying from melanoma has been on a par with the road toll.

*No matter what your skin type, sunburn now could lead to melanoma later in life.

*Sun protection is required from September through to April, especially between 10am – 4pm.

*Sunburn is a big concern because it is linked to melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

*You can get sunburnt on cloudy days. UV radiation penetrates through clouds and can be even higher due to reflection.

*You can get sunburnt on cooler days. The strength of the sun’s rays is not affected by the actual temperature.

*There is no such thing as windburn. Wind does lower the air temperature, making it easy to forget that UV radiation from the sun is still strong.

*There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Tanned skin is skin damaged by the sun.

*If you tan easily or have dark skin, you are still at risk of skin cancer and should use sun protection.

Remember to slip,slop,slap and wrap even under cloudy skies if you’re outdoors for an extended period during our Kiwi summer.