BELIEVE it or not, the summer is not over yet and forecasters have predicted a few more sunny days to come this September.

But while we all enjoy a warm afternoon, health professionals are trying their best to make people understand the dangers of those inviting rays.

So whether you are planning a last-minute getaway before term time starts or just enjoying some time in the garden, the message is to watch out for your skin.

Dr Jason Williams, consultant dermatologist at BMI The Beaumont Hospital in Bolton and Salford Royal Hospital is appealing for people to shun a tan in favour of covering up.

He said: "People are most likely to get burnt when they don't think they will, but you can get burnt even on a cloudy day.

"Sunbeds are a problem amongst younger people but for the older generation it is when they are playing golf, walking or gardening and are just not aware of the risks.

"A little bit of sun is good, especially for vitamin D but not overexposure. The main times when you are likely to get burnt are between March and September. That's the time to wear sensible clothing and apply factor 50 – no less – and re-apply regularly a couple of times a day.

"Factor 50 is reasonably high but by the time you have spread it on thinly it will not have that factor."

Top help protect your skin, Dr Williams offers five top tips on how to stay safe in the sun:

1. Apply sunscreen: Use your sunscreen liberally and at regular intervals, making sure to cover all areas of exposed skin, including the back of the neck, top of the ears and the scalp.

Get help from someone else for the hard-to-reach areas like your back and shoulders. A sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and five-star UV rating will help prevent the skin from burning and the damage that can cause skin cancer.

2. Wear more clothes: This may seem like an odd tip to advise during the summer, but wearing a hat, sunglasses, and putting on a T-shirt or kaftan to cover your shoulders and chest on the beach will give you more protection from the sun, without making you too hot.

3. Sit in the shade: Where possible enjoy the sun in the shade rather than sitting or walking directly in it. Take a large parasol to the beach and sit underneath this, especially at times when the sun is highest in the sky, so between 11am till 3pm.

4. Home and Away: Remember that the sun does come out in the UK as well; take sunscreen to work with you and apply before sitting outside on your lunch break.

5. Monitor your moles: It is essential to regularly monitor your moles. If any change in colour, size, shape, bleed or become sensitive to touch then seek a review by your GP or dermatologist.

The NHS advises people to contact your GP, nearest NHS walk-in centre, or NHS 111 if they feel unwell or are concerned about sunburn, particularly if they are burnt over a large area or have any of the more severe symptoms, including blistering or swelling of the skin, chills, a high temperature of 38c or above, dizziness, headaches and feeling sick.

Sunburn and sun allergy are short-term risks of sun exposure.

However Dr Williams says he commonly sees cases of the long-term damage that can be inflicted by spending to long in the sun without realising the risks.

These include skin cancers such as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer and premature ageing and wrinkling of the skin.

Other effects also include rough and scaly pre-cancerous spots on the skin called solar keratosis.

Dr Williams adds: "What you tend to see is the more long-term affects or chronic sun exposure. We have a population which is living longer and nicer lives, take more holidays abroad or get out doors more, so now you do see the affects of the sun a lot more on the older generation.

"And then you only need to drive around student areas to see how common sunbed shops are and how popular they are.

"The more you are exposed to the sun the more serious the long-term affect could be. The most serious is a malignant melanoma, which can be fatal.

"More still needs to be done to raise awareness and to make sure people are aware of the dangers.

"We also need to make people stop thinking about tans and make it trendy to be pale because in the long-term it is better for their health."