Whether you’re perfecting the char on chicken wings, searching for missing tongs, or simply watching the grilling action from a picnic blanket, it’s important to always stay sun safe.

While burnt sausages can lead to a disappointing day out, severe sunburn can have a much more sinister result. Sudden, intense exposure to the sun can cause melanoma, a form of skin cancer that can spread to other organs. Although 86% of all UK cases of melanoma are preventable, data shows that 1 in 36 males and 1 in 47 females in the UK will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime.

With Britain on track to hit 200 million BBQ occasions this year[8], it is vital that both fire and sun safety are kept front of mind. For those planning to take part in the 25th National BBQ Week this weekend, the NHS recommends a minimum SPF of 30 to protect against UVB. After a year in lockdown, and a frustratingly slow start to the summer, people should take extra care before exposure to intense sun as melanoma incidence is highest among those with fair skin who tan poorly.

Professor Gordon Wishart, Chief Medical Officer at Check4Cancer comments: “Over 80% of all skin cancers are caused by over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds. This means that the majority of skin cancers are preventable by undertaking simple sun safety measures. Choose a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF), most fair skinned people will need SPF 30 or higher to stop from burning in the summertime. Also, make sure you choose a sunscreen product with a superior UVA 4 -5star rated protection symbol. If you are concerned about any moles or localised changes to your skin then contact your GP or Check4Cancer immediately.”

Melanoma skin cancer is currently the 5th most common cancer in the UK. In contrast to other forms of cancer, it occurs frequently at a younger age[10]. With 17,852 cases diagnosed last year, the UK accounted for 57% of all new cases in Northern Europe[11]. While the UK is 11th in the list of European countries with the highest incidence of melanoma, popular tourist destinations Spain, Greece and Malta take up three of the four lowest incidence spots[12].

Dr Borve at First Derm comments: “It is well known that people tend to pay more attention to their sunscreen and SPF when they are abroad but forget or don’t think it is important in the UK, and I cannot stress how important it is that we buck this trend.”

FirstDerm and Check4Cancer are available via the healthcare marketplace in the myGP app. myGP is the UK’s largest independent GP booking and healthcare management app used by over 2.3m people to manage their health.