ARMS & LEGS 2 x 10p blobs for each limb

ARMS: The arms are a common site for melanoma in both men and women, says Justine Hextall. Aim for a 10p-sized blob of cream on each upper and each lower arm, so two for each arm — four altogether.

‘people often don’t worry about their arms, especially the lower arms, as the skin here tends not to burn as easily because it gets more exposure to sunlight throughout the year,’ says Dr Hextall.

‘However, you still need to be using suncream, as it’s not just sunburn that raises your risk of sun damage and cancer — we know that long-term sun exposure does, too.’

LEGS: This is the most common site for melanoma in women. You should aim for at least a 10p coin’s worth of suncream for each upper and each lower leg, says Dr Hextall — four altogether for both legs. ‘The backs of the thighs in particular are prone to burning, as not only are they harder to put suncream on yourself, but they’re covered up for a lot of the year.’

And if your legs always stay stubbornly pale — neither burning nor tanning — don’t assume this means you can get away without suncream.

‘Different skin types produce different types of melanin (the pigment in our skin) — for example, someone with very fair, Celtic-type skin tends to produce more pheomelanin. This type doesn’t actually give very much colour, which is why the skin stays pale, but it also doesn’t protect as well against UV exposure.

‘Those with this fair skin type will never get a golden tan, but if they don’t protect their skin they will get freckling and pigmentation changes as the skin becomes increasingly sun-damaged.

‘At my clinic, I see a lot of people in their 40s wanting to get rid of sun spots on their lower legs.’