BRIGHTON has been ranked as the sunniest city in the UK - and also where people could be most at risk of premature ageing.

Hair transplant and dermatology specialists Aventus Clinic analysed factors such as average UV, average sunshine days per month, average sunshine hours, and chance of rain in August.

The top ten are:

  1. Brighton
  2. London
  3. Exeter
  4. Peterborough
  5. Norwich
  6. Southampton
  7. Doncaster
  8. Nottingham
  9. Coventry
  10. Cardiff

Taking the crown as the sunniest city in the UK, people in Brighton are also potentially most at risk of early ageing.

According to Aventus, in August, the city has an average UV rating of four and high averages of sunshine days (12.2) per month, sunshine hours per day (9.1), and a low chance of rain (19 per cent).

The Argus: People in Brighton took to the beaches during the heatwave-before the thunderstorms hitPeople in Brighton took to the beaches during the heatwave-before the thunderstorms hit

Although with a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in Sussex until tomorrow night, it looks like the sun will not be making an appearance for a while.

Read more: Sussex faces three days of thunderstorms as 30C heatwave comes to abrupt end

And the forecast looks considerably cooler for the rest of the month, with cloud and sunny intervals predicted for most days.

Anny Choudhry, aesthetics physician at Aventus Clinic, warned people to take precautions against the sun.

“The sun we love is one of the harshest irritants for the skin,” she said.

“The skin absorbs UV rays and visible light, which can cause pigmentation and accelerate ageing.

“Those living in Brighton need to be extra careful these next few months when heading out in the sun, and I suggest using SPF 50 on the face and spraying hair with a protectant, even if you’re just popping out for an hour.

“Sun damage can result in skin conditions like actinic keratosis and more serious problems such as skin cancers.

“It’s the obvious suggestion, but we all need to wear sunscreen to help protect against acute and long-term sun damage."

Dr Choudhry also recommended people to avoid retinol and exfoliating acids like BHAs, AHAS, salicylic acid and lactic acid during heatwaves.

Dr Suhail Alam, medical director and specialist in hair restoration at Aventus Clinic, also gave tips on how to keep hair healthy in the heat.

“If the hair is exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time, it can cause the hair to become dry, brittle, frizzy, and thin,” said Dr Alam.

“A small but effective way to protect the hair is applying a thin layer of SPF to your hairline to avoid root damage. If the root of the hair is protected, then it will prevent skin cell loss, which will ensure the hair remains strong.

“If you’re popping out of the house quickly, a loose-fitting hat would help protect the hair.

“Lastly, I'd suggest nourishing the hair with conditioning masks as well as running cold water over it after it's been washed.”