Sun and adventure are a perfect combination. There’s nothing better than locking up the office and the house and heading into the great outdoors. Spending time in nature, soaking up the sun, is a wonderfully rejuvenating experience that both energizes and grounds us. But too much sun can have detrimental affects.

This year, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) celebrates Sun Awareness Week from May 9th through the 15th. BAD’s goal is to raise awareness about the effects of sun exposure as well as the realities of skin cancer. The organization promotes regularly checking your skin for new or changed moles or melanoma, as well as consistently using sun screen.

In advance of Sun Awareness Week BAD has released a new study which reveals that eight out of ten Brits don’t apply sunscreen before going outside. What’s more, 70% of those that do apply sunscreen don’t follow the recommendation to reapply it every two hours. Previous surveys have revealed that 72% of Brits admitted to getting a sunburn the same year as the survey.

BAD reminds us that these numbers are concerning because the risk of melanoma doubles in people who have a history of sunburn. Melanoma is a serious risk and in the U.K. alone results in just over 2,000 deaths each year.

Remember:

1. Be liberal with your sunscreen and apply every two hours and immediately after water sports or swimming
2. Apply your sunscreen before you dress and before you go outside
3. When staying in the sun for an extended period, try to cover up as much as possible.
4. Don’t forget your sunglasses
5. Avoid direct exposure for children and babies

With this in mine, we want to encourage everyone to stay sun safe while on holiday and when spending time outside. Prevention is easy and takes just a couple of minutes. No one wants to deal with a painful sunburn when they’re trekking up the next mountain, horseback riding through a beautiful valley, or exploring new and fantastic places on their once-in-a-lifetime adventure.