10 essentials to stay safe in the sun as Britain basks in the hottest day of the year

The UK is enjoying the hottest day of the year so far, with the weekend is set to be a scorcher. And after what seems like eternal winter, it's not surprising that most of us will be living up to the old adage 'only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun'.

But sun safety is vital to protect us against painful sunburn and life-threatening skin cancer. So make sure you take our top 10 tips to stay safe while the sun shines.

1. Know your skin type

There are a few measures of skin type but the simplest is on the Be Sun Aware website. Its gauge categorises the skin from types one (fairest) to six (darkest). It stands to reason that the fairer your skin type the more care you need to take in the sun.

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2. Use the right sun cream

Choose the right sunscreen for your skin type. If you're a type one or two, there's no point slathering on tanning oil with a SPF 8 in the hope of achieving a golden tan - your skin just isn't built that way. Instead, work with your skin type to keep it protected and safe and you won't end up lobster-tinged.

For fairer skin types, use higher factor sun cream, but remember this still isn't total protection. The SPF number is the amount of time you can stay in the sun, related to how long you usually take to burn. So if it takes 10 minutes for you to burn, factor 15 with theoretically give you an extra two and a half hours.

But you can't expect suncream to be effective for more than a couple of hours, so you should take the SPF numbers with a pinch of salt, keep an eye on your skin for any reddening and reapply regularly.

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3. Ditch old bottles and check expiry dates

Suncream becomes less effective over time so don't be tempted to use up old bottles from the back of the cupboard. Check expiry dates (sun cream usually lasts around two years) before use and remember that every year there is more innovation in the products so the more modern your sunscreen, the better it is for your skin.

4. Avoid the sun at the hottest part of the day

Best practice is to stay out of the sun between the hours of 11 and three, as this is when the sun is highest in the sky and the rays are strongest.

In hot countries, you may want to widen this as you're likely to be closer to it. There's a reason people who live in hot climates take a nap or stay indoors in the middle of the day and only let their children go out and play in the early evening when the rays are going down.

If you want to enjoy the warmth or have to be out and about, sit in the shade and wear lose clothing and a hat to protect yourself.

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5. The vitamin D confusion

Amid the scare stories about getting skin cancer and the knowledge that it's on the increase, we've also been bombarded with warnings that we're not getting enough vitamin D - which is made by our bodies using sunlight.

In the winter it's nigh-on impossible to get the recommended amount of vitamin D in this country as the sun's rays are weak or conspicuously AWOL.

In the summer, you can stock up on vitamin D. Experts recommend spending a few minutes in the sun without suncream in the early morning or late afternoon. But don't let yourself burn.

A new study by King's College London, part-funded by Boots, found that wearing factor 15 suncream doesn't affect your body's ability to make vitamin D, even when applied correctly and regularly. If you're using higher factor, or are very likely to burn it may be an idea to take a vitamin D supplement, rather than risk exposing your skin to damage.

6. Protect your face

The skin on your face is delicate and it's also where we worry about skin damage in terms of vanity - i.e. wrinkles. Your face is also exposed to the elements more, which means you should wear sun cream on it all through the year.

Experts recommend using at least a factor 25 on your face in the spring and summer. For more details on face SPFs and moisturisers containing sunscreen, we asked several dermatologists for their advice on facial sun skincare. We've also rounded up the best product to save your face.

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7. Apply it properly

As a rule of thumb, you need a generous 10p-sized blob of cream per area - for each leg, each arm, torso etc. For your face, a pea-sized amount will suffice, and another for under your chin and your throat.

8. Reapply

You should reapply suncream throughout the day, particularly if you're swimming or sweating. Apply suncream 30 minutes before sun exposure to let the protection sink into the skin and reapply the same amount every two hours - or more if you get wet.

9. Protect your eyes

Your eyes can be damaged by sun rays as well as your skin, so wear sunglasses. These should have the CE European and British Standard marks to show they come up to regulations.

10. Fake it

We're swayed by media and advertising to still see bronzed skin tones as the beauty ideal, despite the tan being a sign of damaged skin. If you want to get the look without the damage, try fake tanning. Modern tan brands no longer smell of biscuit and getting a streak-free look is easy with a little practice.