People get less than half the UV protection offered by sunscreen and risk burning because they don’t put enough on, a study warns.
As the nation remains in a sweaty battle versus the heatwave, experts looked at how well ultraviolet radiation is blocked based on typical product use.
Researchers found people do not get the full benefits as they apply too thin a layer compared with recommendations.
It came as the Met Office continued to advise staying out of the sun, with a level three health watch alert – the second highest – still in place for much of the East and South East.
And while it was slightly cooler today, with rain in some areas, the country is preparing for more blowtorch-like conditions.
Temperatures in parts of the UK did not fall below 24C overnight, and are not even due to peak until tomorrow or Friday.
The Met Office said there was a 90% probability of heatwave conditions on Friday morning.
Temperatures in the South East could reach a tarmac-melting 35C, and the mercury could top 30C in parts of the North and Scotland. Though the record for the month’s hottest day remains July 1, 2015, when temperatures hit 36.7C at Heathrow.
Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and North West England today had cooler temperatures and showers.
Forecasters said the East might even have some thunderstorms this morning.
Yet several places in England have gone 54 consecutive days without significant rainfall. The longest run with none at all this summer is 48 days at Brooms Barn, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Rivers and streams have dried up in England, forcing the Environment Agency to transfer thousands of fish.
Blackberries, usually out in August or September, have ripened early but the National Farmers’ Union warned of crops “parched to the bone”.
It also said livestock farmers are resorting to using winter rations as grass has stopped growing.
The NHS said the hot weather could increase risks to vulnerable patients, such as the elderly, babies and young children, and people with serious chronic conditions.
Sweltering Brits are snapping up fans and air purifiers in a bid to beat the heat. John Lewis said sales of electrical cooling products were up 315%.
There has been a 733% increase in online searches for paddling pools, and a further 400% rise in the number of searches for cool pillows.
Soaring temperatures could also hit home insurance claims. The AA said: “Some insurers are fearing a raft of subsidence claims with the long, hot spell following a wet and cold winter.”
Meanwhile, in a first-of-its-kind experiment, researchers at King’s College London assessed DNA damage to the skin after lowering sunscreen application thickness below 2mg per square cm – the amount manufacturers use to achieve their sun protection factor rating.
Scientists divided 16 fair-skinned volunteers into two groups of eight, with three women and five men.
They were exposed for a week to UV rays at similar levels to those experienced at holiday destinations such as Tenerife, Florida and Brazil.
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The findings, published in medical journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica, showed sunscreen with an SPF of 50 applied in a typical way, rather than as per manufacturers’ recommendations, would at best provide 40% of the expected protection.
Study author Prof Antony Young said: “There is no dispute that sunscreen provides important protection against the cancer-causing impact of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
“However, what this research shows is that the way sunscreen is applied plays an important role in determining how effective it is.
“Given that most people don’t use sunscreens as tested by manufacturers, it’s better for people to use a much higher SPF than they think is necessary.”
Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said the results showed why it was important to use at least SPF 30.
She added: “In theory an SPF of 15 should be sufficient, but we know that in real-world situations we need the additional protection offered by a higher SPF.
“It also shows why we shouldn’t rely on sunscreen alone for sun protection – we should also use clothing and shade.”
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