• Soltan and Macmillan continue their mission to raise awareness of sun safety this summer 

• Research reveals that education is still required on sun safety, including the amount of sunscreen to apply and when to reapply  

• Clare O’Connor, Suncare Scientific Advisor at Boots shares her top tips as families prepare for the summer holidays 

Schools are nearly out for summer across the UK and with holidays, days out and trips to the park ahead of us, Soltan and Macmillan Cancer Support continue their mission to raise awareness of sun safety behaviour. As Macmillan’s sun safety partner for the third year running, Soltan is committed to working with the charity to raise awareness and make sun protection accessible for all. 

Wearing SPF daily is important all year round, but particularly during the warmer summer months, yet according to research by Macmillan and Soltan less than a third of people (31%) are applying sunscreen regularly¹. 

Protection from harmful UV rays is also an important part of sun safety, but confusion still exists about them, with the majority of people (89%) unclear about the different types of UV rays².  

To help everyone stay sun safe this summer, Clare O’Connor, Suncare Scientific Advisor at Boots, shares her top tips.

 

1. Use the right SPF 

“Wearing sunscreen is essential to protect your skin from sun exposure, even when it's cloudy. I recommend a minimum of SPF30 for all skin tones, increasing to SPF50 for those with sensitive skin, anyone travelling to hotter climates and for children.  As part of our commitment to encourage sun safety, Soltan no longer produces sunscreen lower than SPF50 for children and SPF15 for adults. 

“There are lots of different formats of sunscreen available, some of which make applying on wriggly children easier. Sprays like Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Spray SPF50 and roll-on formats such as Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Suncare Roll On SPF50 are great and perfect when on the go.”  

2. Protect against UVA

“Remember SPF is only half the story. UV rays can have many harmful effects on the skin, from sunburn to skin cancer, so it is important to ensure that your sunscreen has the highest level of UV protection. Always check the UVA rating when purchasing sunscreen and look for the 5* rating symbol, the highest UVA star rating. The full Soltan range offers uncompromised 5* UVA protection, so you can relax and enjoy that picnic in the park or overseas getaway, safe in the knowledge that you are protected.” 

3. Apply enough sunscreen 

“Surprisingly research reveals that over 70% of people are unsure of the recommended amount of sunscreen to apply to their face and body³. But it's easy. To cover an entire adult body, I’d recommend around 2-3 tablespoons of product - about a shot glass full, or an ounce for spray formats. To make sure the head and neck are protected, use the ‘two-finger rule’ - simply squeeze the product directly onto the first two fingers of your hand and generously rub into the face.” 

“But always remember to regularly reapply throughout the day. According to research conducted with Macmillan, 40% of those who wear or apply sunscreen admit to only ‘sometimes’ re-applying on a typical summer’s day in the UK⁴. Depending on the sunscreen, we should all be reapplying every 2 hours and instantly after swimming. The Soltan Active Stick SPF50+ offers great protection for active families, even including swimming.” 

4. Avoid the strong midday sunshine

“Sunscreen is just one way to protect yourself from the sun. For additional protection and especially for children, it can help to cover up with suitable clothing, wear sunglasses and seek shade between around 11am and 3pm, when UV levels are at their peak in the UK. Doing this, along with a generous application of a suitable factor sunscreen, will help reduce the skin's exposure to harmful UV rays.” 

“Together with Macmillan, we have specially trained over 11,000 Sun Safety Advisors who are available in select Boots stores to help with any suncare support or advice customers need.” 

5. Always check your moles

“As we spend more time outdoors this summer, we will have more exposure to the sun, so it is important to regularly monitor skin for any changes, particularly moles. I encourage everyone to check their moles, or if you can’t do it yourself, to ask friends or family to help. If you do notice anything unusual, you should visit your GP, an NHS Walk-in Centre or a Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist in a Boots store. A Mole Scanning Service*, which is operated by ScreenCancer, is available in selected Boots stores and provides an accessible way of checking anything you may be concerned about.” 

 

Macmillan Cancer Support and Soltan research: 

* All research commissioned by Macmillan Cancer Support and Soltan, June 2024 on 2091 adults. All figures are from YouGov Plc. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2091 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2024.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). 

1. Question: How often, if ever, do you personally wear/apply sunscreen? 31% of respondents selected ‘Yes, I do wear/apply sunscreen regularly’. A further 55% selected ‘Yes, I do wear/apply sunscreen but not regularly (i.e. I apply when I am on holiday, when it is particularly sunny, etc.) 
2. Question: Thinking about the different types of UV rays that come from the sun (e.g. UVA and UVB rays). Which ONE, if any, of the following statements best applies to you? 89% of respondents selected either ‘I know a little about them,’ ‘I have heard of them, but do not know anything about them’, or ‘I have never heard of them before’
3. Question: Thinking about the amount of sunscreen you are supposed to apply to your face and body...Which ONE, if any, of the following statement best applies to you? 73% of respondents selected either ‘I know the recommended amount for my face, but not my body’, ‘I know the recommended amount for my body, but not my face’, ‘I apply a generous amount, but I am not sure on exact volume or coverage’, ‘I have little understanding about the amount of sunscreen to apply’ or ‘I do not know anything about the recommended amount.’ 
4. Question: You mentioned you wear/apply sunscreen. Thinking about a typical summer's day in the UK...How often, if at all, do you usually re-apply sunscreen? 40% of those who wear/apply sunscreen selected ‘Sometimes.’