People in West Yorkshire encouraged to take care amid heatwave to avoid risks of skin cancer
With temperatures topping 32°C and UV levels soaring, people from West Yorkshire are being advised to wear sunscreen every two hours, to reduce melanoma skin cancer risk
Last updated 11th Jul 2025
As parts of Yorkshire remain under a yellow heat-health alert set to last until Monday (14 July), residents face prolonged exposure to very high UV levels and daytime highs around 30–32 °C according to the Met Office.
Under these conditions, the UK Health Security Agency warns that adverse temperatures are likely to impact health and social care services, especially among those with pre-existing conditions.
Jacqui Drake, melanoma skin cancer sufferer, awareness ambassador and fundraiser for Leeds Cancer Centre, on behalf of Leeds Hospitals Charity, warns that despite the urge to get a tan the risks of skin cancer is very real and can be avoided and how there is a huge misconception of a tan meaning healthy skin.
She said: “It's the long term affects you don't see it until much later, malignant Melanoma is a killer, that's for sure. The problem is everybody wants a tan and people assume that you look healthy with a tan, but, actually, it’s a fallacy.”
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary environmental risk factor for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In the UK, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer, with around 17,500 new cases and 2,300 deaths annually, more than six deaths per day according to Cancer Research UK, who emphasise the importance of sun-safe habits.
To protect against both UVB (which causes burns) and UVA (which penetrates deeper and drives ageing and DNA damage), it is advised to choose and apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 but ideally 50 and a four or five-star UVA rating. No product blocks 100% of rays, so sunscreen should complement other measures.
Jacqui said: “I know people won't like to hear this, but we should be using factor 50 and the lowest factor 30. But kids certainly factor 50 plus, it needs to be UVA and UVB that's that is most important, and we need to use it correctly, and sadly, that's another thing we don't do well.”
Beyond skin cancer, extended heat exposure can exacerbate dehydration and heat exhaustion While West Yorkshire hospitals brace for increased heat-related admissions, these simple steps from leading cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support can help people enjoy the sun safely.
Top tips for sun safety according to the cancer charity:
• The best protection when out in the sun is to cover up. Wearing the right clothing, staying in the shade and using suncream can protect skin
• Wear sunglasses with wide wraparound lenses or wide arms to help protect your eyes. Sunglasses with the most protection for the eyes have either: a CE mark or the British Standards Institution KitemarkTM
• Stay in the shade, when possible, especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is strongest.
• Use suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50, or at least 30, whenever exposed to the sun for a period of time. Follow the instructions on the bottle and re-apply it as recommended.
• Choose a suncream product that protects against ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) and ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) – for example, a suncream with a 4-star UVA rating that is SPF 30 or above.
• Check the UV forecast. The UV forecast is a daily report explaining how strong sunlight is locally. A higher UV index number means stronger sunlight and more risk of sun damage to the skin.
Anyone affected by cancer, support is available on Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00.