When it comes to suntanning, there are a lot of myths doing the rounds. Health24 separates fact from fiction.

Life on Earth cannot exist without the sun - but its ultraviolet rays can cause melanoma, a serious, aggressive and potentially deadly form of cancer.

When spending a day at the beach, one often relies on an umbrella or a gazebo to block some of the sun's rays. But how effective is it really?

Go into the sun unprotected in any way and UV rays (both UVA and UVB) immediately penetrate your skin.

Eighty-four percent of sunscreens offer inadequate protection from the sun or contains at least one ingredient with significant safety concerns, says a US study.

Are sunscreens always beneficial, or can they be detrimental to users? A research team report that the sunscreen itself can become harmful to the skin.

When grim cancer warnings fail, researchers say showing young people photographic evidence of sun-linked skin damage motivates many to better protect their skin.

Before you consider hitting that sunbed to maintain your summer tan, take note that experts are warning that sunbed use can increase your risk of deadly skin cancer by up to 75%.