The sun was strong enough to cause skin damage on almost every day between April and September of last year, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has said.

It has just launched its annual SunSmart campaign, which urges people to take precautions with their skin. Most cases of skin cancer are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. UV rays cannot be seen or felt, but can cause damage to skin even on cloudy days.

The ICS analysed UV levels across Ireland between April and September of 2014 and found that they were strong enough to damage skin on up to 95% of days, depending on the area.

In Cork, UV rays were high enough to cause skin damage on 172 of the 181 days assessed (95%), while in Galway, skin damage was possible on just over 90% of the days.

The lowest figure was seen in Dublin, with 147 of the 181 days potentially causing skin damage, however this still represented over 81% of the days between April and November.

The ICS highlighted the fact that in 2011, the number of new cases of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer exceeded the 10,000 figure for the first time. Furthermore, Ireland has the highest reported incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer in Europe.

"Most people think they don't need to take care of their skin when in Ireland but the truth is very different. Even on cloudy and cool days, from April to September, UV levels in Ireland can be high enough to damage skin and increase skin cancer risk," commented ICS cancer prevention officer, Rosemary Scott.

She emphasised that in nine out of 10 cases, skin cancer can be prevented if the skin is properly protected. She also pointed out that this is not just an issue for people who traditionally spend a lot of time outdoors.

"In recent years, young city dwellers, with intermittent sun exposure, have been seen to be more at risk, and greater numbers are presenting to their doctor with skin cancer each year. If you are outdoors watching sport, doing the gardening or just sitting in the park you need to take care too and not let UV rays catch you out," Ms Scott said.

The ICS is urging people to follow the SunSmart Code:
-Try to stay in the shade when the sun is at its strongest, between 11am and 3pm
-Cover up by wearing a shirt with a collar and long shorts. Wear a hat that provides shade to your face, neck and ears
-Wear wraparound sunglasses that offer adequate UV protection
-Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 for adults, and at least 30 for children, and UVA protection. This should be applied 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours, more often if you are sweating a lot or swimming
-Babies under the age of six months should be kept out of the sun entirely
-Check the UV index every day here.