Spending a day on the beach under a sun umbrella can be a fabulous way to keep cool and protected on a hot summer's day.
However, we should not solely rely on umbrellas to keep our skin burn-free.
According to a recent study by JAMA Dermatology, umbrellas do not provide adequate sun protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
The research found that umbrellas do not shield people from rays that bounce off sand under the umbrella, and concluded that a concluding that a multi layered approach to protection is the best way to prevent skin damage.
This is worrying information when you consider the fact that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
Despite the fact that we are not a particularly hot nation, UVB and UVA rays are present all year, even during the cold winter months.
It is also important to remember that while skin cancer is not common among children, they are highly susceptible to UV Rays.
Skin cancer can take 10-15 years to develop, and according to a study done by the Queensland University of Technology, 50 percent of sun damage to the skin happens before the age of 18.
We should be protecting our skin, and our little people's skin, from harmful UV rays all-year-round, with a daily dose of SPF.
Ultraviolet rays are found in sunlight and they are invisible to the human eye, leaving our skin extremely vulnerable without any protection.
There are two different types UV rays, UVB and UVA, and it's important to remember that there is a difference between them.
P20 Sunscreen talked us through the differences, explaining that "UVA rays tan the skin, affect the elasticity of the skin (wrinkles), cause skin cancer and penetrates deeper into the skin – predominantly aging the skin."
They told us that "we are exposed to UVA rays during the daylight hours throughout the year, as they are not blocked by clouds or windows."
P20 continued by saying that "UVB rays burn and make your skin turn red and these rays can also cause skin cancer".
That is why it’s important to find a sun protection product that protects against UVA as well as UVB.
