Skin cancer risk builds over a lifetime - But it’s never too late to protect yourself

The HSE is urging the public to rethink how they perceive sun exposure, warning that while many people recognise the risks associated with intense, short-term exposure leading to sunburn. The accumulation of everyday ultraviolet (UV) exposure over a lifetime is also a significant cause of skin cancer.

While many correctly associate skin damage with noticeable sunburn, considerable harm also occurs quietly through cumulative exposure.

Routine activities such as school runs, walking the dog, walking or gardening, commuting to work, and spending time outdoors all contribute to long-term skin damage - even on cooler or cloudy days.

At the same time, episodes of intense exposure that result in sunburn can cause immediate damage and significantly increase melanoma risk.

These exposures often go unnoticed but build up over time, contributing to long-term skin damage, premature ageing, and an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Skin cancer is linked to two key patterns of UV exposure - cumulative (chronic) and intermittent:

1. Cumulative exposure - this comes from the small, repeated doses of UV radiation received during everyday activities such as commuting, walking, or gardening.
2. Intermittent exposure - by contrast, involves short bursts of intense UV radiation, often leading to sunburn during holidays or sunny weekends, and is strongly associated with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

Both patterns of exposure increase risk, making daily protection and sunburn prevention equally important.

Dr Breeda Neville, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) said: “UV damage is cumulative, meaning everyday exposure adds up over time, but it’s also important to recognise the danger of intense, intermittent exposure that leads to sunburn. Many people mistakenly associate the sun’s warmth with UV exposure. However, what we feel as heat is actually infrared radiation - not UV. Unlike heat, UV radiation cannot be seen or felt, which often leads to a false sense of security. Protecting your skin both every day and during periods of strong sunshine is key to reducing your lifetime risk of skin cancer.

“Every moment spent in the sun without protection contributes incrementally to a person’s overall risk. It is not just occasional high exposure -such as holidays or heatwaves - that is harmful, but also the thousands of routine, everyday exposures over decades. Together, both cumulative and intermittent UV exposure play a significant role in skin cancer development.”

Selene Daly Tarpey, Nurse Tutor, HSE Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education Sligo Leitrim West Cavan advises: “Acting now can make a meaningful difference. While previous damage cannot be reversed, reducing both your day-to-day UV exposure and avoiding sunburn can help prevent further harm and lower your risk of developing skin cancer in the future. Think of it like filling a glass - you can’t empty what’s already there, but you can stop topping it up.”

Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5 S’s

The HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Healthy Ireland’s SunSmart campaign highlights how simple, everyday actions can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer by addressing both types of harmful UV exposure. Incorporating sun protection into everyday routines by following the Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5 S’s helps reduce both cumulative and intermittent exposure:

• Slip on clothing that covers your skin, such as long sleeves and collared T-shirts
• Slop on sunscreen. Use SPF 30+ for adults and SPF 50+ for children, apply 20 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours—or more often if sweating
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat to protect the face, ears and neck
• Seek shade, especially between 11am and 3pm, when UV rays are strongest
• Slide on sunglasses

Alongside the 5 S’s, the campaign reminds the public: protect your skin every day, avoid sunburn, do not deliberately tan, and never use sunbeds.

For more information on protecting yourself and your family this summer, visit theSunSmart hub.

You can also follow #SunSmart on social media.