Brits warned to do one thing in sun to reduce cancer risk

With temperatures rising and the sun making more frequent appearances, Brits are being urged to properly apply sunscreen.

It comes after the UK Health Security Agency issued a yellow heat health alert earlier this week, sparking safety fears for the elderly and other vulnerable groups during a period of extremely high temperatures and scorching sun. One of the key dangers of being exposed to the sun for long periods of time is the increased risk of skin cancer.

While sunscreen can help reduce damage from exposure to the sun, not all are made equally. When purchasing sunscreen you should look out for the sun protection factor (SPF) and a star rating. The higher the SPF and star rating, the better - the NHS itself recommends an SPF of at least 30 and a minimum four-star UVA protection rating.

It's not enough to simply whack on a thin layer of sunscreen on your neck right before heading out of the house. According to the NHS, adults should generally apply around six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen for the whole body.

You must also apply a generous layer as the protection can be significantly reduced if it's too thin. Furthermore, if you're heading outside for a long period of time during a scorching day, you should actually apply sunscreen twice - once 30 minutes before going out and then once again right before you walk out the door.

But that's not all, you should continue to apply sunscreen roughly every two hours while outside as the sun can dry it off your skin. Sunscreen also needs to be reapplied whenever you submerge yourself in water - even if the product says it's water-resistant.

While sunscreen can help protect you from sun damage, you shouldn't solely rely on it. It's advised that you also wear clothes and