Summer Sun: Protecting Your Skin This July

Enjoy the Sun Safely

Sunlight has many benefits. It can improve mood, encourage outdoor activity and help our bodies produce vitamin D. However, excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure remains the leading preventable cause of skin cancer and accelerates skin ageing.

Simple steps can dramatically reduce your risk:

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapplying every two hours and after swimming.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and lightweight clothing that covers exposed skin.
Seek shade during the strongest sunlight, typically between 11am and 3pm.
Remember that UV rays can penetrate cloud cover, so protection is important even on overcast days.

Children's skin is particularly vulnerable, making good sun protection habits especially important from an early age.

Recognising Suspicious Moles

Most moles are completely harmless, but it is worth becoming familiar with your own skin so that you notice any changes.

A useful guide is the ABCDE rule:

A – Asymmetry: One half looks different from the other.

B – Border: The edges are irregular, blurred or uneven.

C – Colour: There are multiple colours or an uneven distribution of colour.

D – Diameter: Larger than around 6mm, although melanomas can sometimes be smaller.

E – Evolving: Any mole that changes in size, shape, colour or sensation deserves assessment.

Other warning signs include:

A new mole appearing in adulthood.
Persistent itching or tenderness.
Bleeding or crusting.
A sore that does not heal.

Many changes turn out to be entirely benign, but it is always preferable to have a concerning lesion assessed promptly.

Skin Cancer Awareness

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and its incidence continues to rise.

There are 3 main types:

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The most common type.
It usually grows slowly and rarely spreads but should still be treated.
A pearly or shiny lump, or a sore that won't heal and may bleed or crust repeatedly, usually on skin exposed to the sun.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Can develop on sun-exposed skin and may spread if left untreated.
A red, scaly patch or a firm, raised lump that may become sore, crusty or ulcerated and does not heal.

Melanoma

Although less common, melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. When detected early, treatment is highly successful, making prompt assessment essential.
A new mole or a change in an existing mole that becomes uneven in shape, has irregular borders, multiple colours, grows larger, or changes over time.

Regular skin checks with your GP, alongside routine self-monitoring, are important for identifying any new or changing skin lesions at an early stage.

Don't forget to check the places that are easily missed. The backs of the calves, the tops and soles of the feet, and between the toes are common areas where sunscreen may be overlooked and melanoma can appear.

A skin examination can be performed as part of your annual medical check-up or during a standard GP consultation if you have any concerns about your skin.

Heat-Related Illness

Periods of hot weather can pose significant health risks, particularly for older adults, young children and those living with long-term medical conditions.

Our bodies rely on sweating and increased blood flow to the skin to regulate temperature. However, these natural cooling mechanisms become less effective at the extremes of age.

Older adults are more vulnerable because they often do not feel thirsty, even when they are becoming dehydrated. Ageing also reduces the body's ability to regulate temperature, and some medications such as diuretics, blood pressure tablets and certain heart medications can increase fluid loss or affect the body's response to heat. Dehydration can develop quickly and may lead to dizziness, confusion, falls, urinary tract infections and worsening of existing heart or kidney conditions.

Young children and babies are also at greater risk because their bodies heat up more quickly than adults. They produce more heat relative to their size and are less able to cool themselves efficiently. Babies and toddlers cannot always tell us when they are thirsty or feeling unwell, so they rely on adults to keep them cool and well hydrated.

Recognising Heat Exhaustion

Early signs of heat exhaustion include:

Dizziness or feeling faint
Excessive sweating
Headache
Muscle cramps
Fatigue or unusual tiredness
Nausea

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, a medical emergency.

Warning signs include confusion, collapse, a very high body temperature and hot, dry skin or reduced sweating. Heatstroke requires urgent medical attention.

Mosquito Bites

As our summers become warmer, taking sensible precautions against mosquito bites is becoming an increasingly important part of protecting your health whether you're relaxing in your garden or travelling abroad.

Preventing Mosquito Bites

The best treatment is prevention.

To reduce your chances of being bitten:

Use an insect repellent containing DEET (20–50%), which remains the gold standard for protection against mosquitoes in the UK and abroad.
If DEET is unsuitable, products containing picaridin or citriodiol (oil of lemon eucalyptus) are effective alternatives.
Citronella candles or diffusers may help reduce mosquitoes in outdoor seating areas, although they provide less reliable protection than insect repellents applied directly to the skin.
Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, particularly around dawn and dusk when many mosquitoes are most active.
Sleep under mosquito nets when travelling to areas where mosquito-borne diseases are present.
Avoid leaving standing water around the home or garden, where mosquitoes breed.

Treating Mosquito Bites

Most bites improve within a few days and can be managed at home.

Helpful treatments include:

Applying a cool compress to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Hydrocortisone 1% cream (available from pharmacies) to reduce inflammation and itching.
Oral antihistamines, such as cetirizine or loratadine, particularly if itching is widespread or disturbing sleep.
Bite relief creams or gels containing local anaesthetic or soothing ingredients, such as calamine lotion, can also help relieve irritation.
Try to avoid scratching, as this increases the risk of infection.

When Has a Bite Become Infected?

Scratching can allow bacteria to enter the skin, leading to infection.

Arrange a GP appointment if you notice:

Increasing redness spreading beyond the bite.
Swelling that continues to worsen after 48 hours.
Warmth or tenderness around the area.
Pus or yellow discharge.
Fever or feeling generally unwell.
Red streaks spreading away from the bite.

These symptoms may indicate a skin infection (cellulitis), which sometimes requires antibiotic treatment.

Thank You

We’re grateful for our amazing patients! Thanks to your support, this year at Sloane Medical Practice will be filled with new services, improved experiences, and care designed just for you 😊

We look forward to supporting your health throughout 2026.

Warm Regards,

Sloane Medical Practice

​Summer Sun: Protecting Your Skin This July