BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s healthand consumer chiefs urged holiday-makers on Monday to take extrameasures to protect themselves from the sun this summer in a bid tocurb rising levels of skin cancer, notably among children.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun are the leading cause of skincancer with one in every three cancers diagnosed as the skinvariety, the Skin Cancer Foundation says.

“Our message to consumers this summer is very clear: besun-smart this summer and seek protection,” EU Health CommissionerAndroulla Vassiliou said in a statement.

She advised parents not to expose babies and children to directsunlight as the risk of skin cancer is increased by UV radiation.There are two types of UV rays — UVA, which is responsible fortanning, and UVB, which leads to burning.

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