The damaging sun

And yet with the return of scorching temperatures the temptation to bronze is enough to get anyone kicking back and relaxing on a sagging deck chair.

But a new wave of health and beauty scans are lifting the lid on the impact of summer loving by exposing the truth about sun damage.

From the outside a Skin Scanner looks like a prop from an episode of Dr Who - it's a small square white box with a set of silver curtains hanging from one side.

But when you poke your face underneath the device you are confronted with something much worse than science fiction. Inside a small mirror throws back the horrific reflection of your face in all its sun-damaged glory, along with the glowing signs of spots past and present.

Beauty therapist Fleur Hill operates a Skin Scanner at Fleurs Health & Beauty in Malines Avenue, Peacehaven.

"People are so much more aware of their skin these days," she says. "It is important not just to clean skin but to protect it. When you have something visual a client can see, it confirms that sun damage is not something you can think about tomorrow. It's something you have to think about today."

The Skin Scanner is one of a growing number of machines used to show up the long-term effects of sun exposure.

The use of UV or alternative lighting highlights the presence of solar lentigines, which appear like freckles all over the face. The blemishes develop as you sunbathe - and the darker the colour and fuller the pattern, the more serious the damage.

The appearance of this type of equipment in health and beauty salons is welcomed by Worthing and Southlands Hospital's consultant dermatologist Dr Arjida Woollons .

"These scanners show the sun damage process which is quite important," she says. "The more people are made aware of that the better.

"You can see lots and lots of freckles and it brings people face to face with the impact of skin damage.

There is no safe way of sunbathing. You can only try and minimise the damage."

To try out the F-1 Skin Scanner, which is free with a facial or £25 for a half-hour skin analysis, call Fleurs Health & Beauty on 01273 589401.

Here is our selection of some of the products on offer to protect your skin from the sun:

Creams

Tesco has extended its successful Finest brand into a luxurious suncare range for pool-side pampering. Try the lotion available in SPF8, 15 and 25, £6, or Shimmer Lotion SPF15, £6.

Piz Buin's 1 Day Long, £11.99, will give you 10 hours of sun protection from a single application. It also comes in single-use sachets at 99p each, so you don't have to worry about carting around a big bottle of sunscreen.

You'll also only need one application daily with Riemann P20, £11.95 from Asda, Superdrug and John Lewis.

Retaining around 90 per cent of its protection even after swimming, it'll let you tan while giving you much-needed high protection.

Clarins' new Sun Care Cream Ultra Protection SPF30, £14.50, and Origins Sunshine State SPF20, £15, are best for fair skins and sun-sensitive skins.

Estee Lauder's new Sun Performance Suncare range consists of Anti-Ageing Sun Lotion for face and body, £18 each, available in SPF15 and 30. There's also a Body Shimmer, also £18, if you want to glimmer in the sun.

Sprays

The days of struggling to apply sunscreen to those hard-to-reach areas are now over, thanks to the new sun sprays.

Try Shiseido's Refreshing Sun Protection Spray SPF15, £18, a multi-protection sun spray for body, hair and scalp, or Korres Sprayable Sunscreen Face And Body Milk SPF20, £15.

Decleor's Protective Hydrating Spray SPF20, £20, and Dermalogica's Waterproof Solar Spray SPF25, £20.20 won't leave you with a greasy after-feel.

There are also some cheap options - check out Delph sprays, from £1.99 at chemists nationwide, Cyclax sprays, from £5.99 also at chemists, Asda's Sun System sprays, £2.64, and Solero Spray SPF15, £5.99 from Lloyds pharmacy.

They're all available in various sun protection factors, from SPF2 to 50.

Alternatives

Not a fan of creams and lotions? Then try Clinique's new Body Gel SPF15, £13, which is ideal for oily or blemish-prone skin.

Optimise your tan with Imedeen Tanning Capsule, £37.50 for 60 capsules from Boots. Taken for a month before your holiday, it promotes and maximises the natural tan process, so you can get a golden tan quicker, and without the peeling that normally occurs. It's not a sunscreen, however, so you still have to use sun cream.

And Institut Esthederm Sun Trainer is a line of products to help the skin adapt itself to the sun quickly and effectively, while protecting against burning. Before you go, try the Sun Starter, £21, and take the Sun Trainer, £32 - both from Space.NK - with you.