July really should be S.O.S – save our skin – month. Summer has arrived and many of us cannot wait to enjoy the sun and get a tan; understandably we all look a little healthier with sun-kissed skin.

Sadly, there really is no such thing as a safe tan – ask any dermatologist and they will tell you the sun and ultra violet ray damage are the main factors in ageing our skin. Skin cancers are on the rise, especially with the older population who lived during the time of no real sun protection.

Our precious skin is the largest organ of the body and often reflects what is going on within us. When we are dehydrated our skin appears dull and tired, so it is essential to drink preferably eight glasses of ‘liquid’ a day – alcohol does not count!

I certainly don’t want to put a downer on those who insist on tanning, but we are fortunate to have a wonderful variety of fake tanning products available now so you can look great without damaging your skin!

Cannes
This year’s film festival saw virtually all the A-list celebrities sporting pale skin – with previous film festivals tanned skin was the look. How times have changed! It is now popular to just enjoy the skin you have with no need to change it.

Tan accelerator
These products should ideally be applied a few weeks before you are going to be exposed to the sun and are growing in popularity with users saying it helps to promote a lasting tan.

It is, however, important to remember they do not offer any sun protection, so it is essential you still apply a high factor sun screen, preferably with a five-star rating. Be sure to use one with protection against both UVB and UVA rays, as the latter are the ones that cause the most damage to our skin.

Hands
Our hands are particularly vulnerable to early signs of ageing, as they are exposed to the elements all year round. The three main issues are sun spots, texture change and volume change, owing to loss of body fat.

Hands really should be treated as delicately as the face. Liberty of London offers a 20-minute Laser and Light Facial and Hands session, which costs £85 for twenty minutes. The treatment uses light energy to break up pigment and help fade sun and age spots, and stimulate collagen and elastin production on the back of your hands.

If you’re not able to travel to London, why not check out nailsinc.com? For just £5, the Thirsty Hands Moisturising Hand Mask will smooth and rejuvenate your hands back to their best.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hands is another affordable product which soothes and repairs the skin. It’s a non-oily, non-sticky and fast absorbing cream that sinks in quickly, and is good for sensitive skin and soothing redness. Available from Boots for just £7.50.

Let’s pledge to make this a summer where we do not burn our precious skin, but instead protect it from the sun. We only have one skin, so enjoy yourself but stay safe.