Looking after your skin

This page tells you about looking after your skin after a diagnosis of skin cancer. There is information on

A quick guide to what's on this page
Protecting your skin from the sun
A note about sun creams

Looking after your skin

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, you are at increased risk of getting another skin cancer in the future. You must take care in the sun. You should

Wear close weave cotton clothing in the sun, with long sleeves and trousers
Wear a hat that shades your face and neck
Use a high factor sun cream when you are in the sun
Avoid the sun when it is strongest - between 11am and 3pm
NEVER use a sun bed

A note about sun creams

The sun protection factor (SPF) shows how much protection the suncream gives you. Factor 15 will filter out 93% of the sun's harmful rays. The highest protection you can get is factor 60, which will filter out 98% of the sun's rays.

If you have had skin cancer, you should not take any chances. The SPF is to give you extra protection. It does not mean you can safely sunbathe.

CR PDF Icon You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the Living with skin cancer section.

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, you are at increased risk of getting another one in the future. So it is important to take extra care in the sun. There is information about protecting your skin from the sun on our section on preventing skin cancer, and the Cancer Research UK SunSmart campaign. You should

Wear close weave cotton clothing in the sun
Wear long sleeves and trousers
Wear a hat that shades your face and neck
Use a high factor sun cream when you are in the sun
Avoid the sun when it is strongest - between 11am and 3pm
NEVER use a sun bed

If you have had skin cancer, it is best not to take any chances. The SPF is to give you extra protection. It does not mean you can safely sunbathe.