Brits are being urged to apply sunscreen the “correct” way as most people do not use enough. Experts have demonstrated exactly how much sunscreen is needed to stay safe as well as where it should be applied.

Exposure to the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer worldwide. According to Cancer Research UK, melanoma skin cancer rates have increased by almost a third over the past decade.

It is the fifth most common form of cancer in the UK, accounting for around 18,000 diagnoses every year.

A simple way to help prevent your risk of this disease is to always wear sunscreen when you go outside.

But it is likely you “need more than you think”. In a video uploaded to social media platform Instagram, Which UK warned: “Are you putting on enough sun cream?”

It highlighted the following important points about sunscreen that you might not realise:

• It takes seven teaspoons to safely cover your body
• Apply 15 minutes before you go into the sun
• Reapply every two hours (but more often if you’re swimming or sweating lots)

Broken down, those seven teaspoons should be applied as one for the face, two for the arms, two for the legs, one for the stomach, and one for the back. This is supported by advice from the NHS.

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The health body warns that “most people do not apply enough sunscreen”. It continued: “As a guide, adults should aim to apply around six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re covering your entire body.

“If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced.”

If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice:

• 30 minutes before going out
• Just before going out

The NHS advises that even if the product says it is “water resistant” it should be reapplied straight after being in water or towelling yourself dry. It adds: “It’s also recommended to reapply sunscreen every two hours, as the sun can dry it off your skin.”

You should take extra care in the sun if you:

• Have pale, white or light brown skin
• Have freckles or red or fair hair
• Tend to burn rather than tan
• Have many moles
• Have skin problems relating to a medical condition
• Are only exposed to intense sun occasionally (for example, while on holiday)
• Are in a hot country where the sun is particularly intense
• Have a family history of skin cancer

SPFs are rated on a scale of two to 50+ based on the level of protection they offer, with 50+ offering the strongest form of UVB protection.