People are putting themselves at serious risk with common sun cream mistakes

As the British summer heats up, a GP has revealed five common sunscreen mistakes people make that could put you at serious risk from the sun's strong UV rays. Some areas of the UK will reach temperatures in excess of 30C today, with a Level 2 Heat-Health Alert issued for the much of southern and central England, and a Level 1 Alert in place for northern England.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Rudman, said: “Temperatures will continue to rise as we go through the week, becoming well above-average by Friday when many parts of the southern half of the UK are likely to exceed 30C and may even reach 34C in some places.

“This is the first spell of hot weather this year and it is unusual for temperatures to exceed these values in June. Many areas will also see some warm nights with minimum temperatures expected to be in the high teens or even low 20Cs for some overnight.”

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“The heat is a result of a mix of home-grown warming in the day due to high pressure, as well as a southerly airflow introducing some of the warm air from the continent to UK shores.”

Dr Stephanie Ooi, a GP at MyHealthcare Clinic, says many people are unaware of the proper precautions that should be taken to guard against sun damage and skin cancer as the temperature surges. She has shared her five top tips for staying safe below.

Not applying enough

Dr Ooi said: “Most of us don’t put on enough sunscreen. To properly protect your face you should apply two finger lengths of sun cream and for your body it’s a whole shot glass. If you use a spray bottle or roll-on you should be applying several passes or spritzes in each area to provide adequate protection.

“When it comes to children, those