Sunglasses help stop skin cancer

WE should wear sunglasses to help protect ourselves from skin cancer, experts have said.

The recommendation came after a study found that we fail to apply sun cream around our eyes.

Between 5 and 10 per cent of all skin cancers appear on the eyelids.

The study, presented at the British Association of Dermatologists annual conference in Liverpool, showed that we miss out a tenth of the face on average when applying sun cream.

As a result, experts said we should take extra precautions such as wearing sunglasses and hats. One type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, is the most common cancer in the UK – but is almost always cured. Dr Kevin Hamill, of the University of Liverpool, one of the researchers, said sunglasses not only protect corneas in the eyes but also the ‘highly cancer-prone eyelid skin’.