We are now in peak summer season. And this means that being sun smart needs to form an integral part of every day. Statistics from Cancer Council Australia are alarming: In 2011, 2087 people died from skin cancer in Australia. Every year in Australia, skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers, and 99% of these cancers are caused by exposure to the sun.
What is UVR?
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the part of the sun’s rays that causes sunburn and skin damage which in turn results in premature ageing and skin cancer.
It is important to understand the differences between the three types of UV rays:
- UVA causes sunburn and skin damage.
- UVB causes sunburn and skin cancer.
- UVC does not reach the earth’s surface.
UVR is so damaging because it cannot be seen or felt at the time of impact. The temperature and cloud cover have little impact over the day’s UVR levels. UVR is measured by the UV Index, which uses a numerical scale of 1 to 11+ to rate the strength of the sun’s UV rays. The higher the UV Index level, the greater the strength of the sun’s UV rays and the faster the skin will burn. The UV Index was developed by the World Health Organization to provide a consistent and international measure of the sun’s UV strength.
Australia in general has a particularly high UV Index, even during the winter months, so it is important to always be protected.
Clothing
Being sun smart means wearing suitable clothing that will shield your body from the harmful UV rays. Long-sleeved shirts that are made from a tight weave are preferable as the UVR will not be able to penetrate as easily as a thin cotton shirt. Most clothing now also features an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). This was devised as an extra sun safety feature to assist consumers in purchasing the most suitable garments. It is recommended to select garments with a minimum UPF of 30.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen should never be your only form of sun protection. Always ensure that you are using sunscreen as well as the recommended clothing, hat and sunglasses. Sunscreen should contain a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. It should also be water resistant to minimise the risk of it washing off in water activities or from sweating.
Always make sure that you apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside. This allows adequate absorption time. Be sure to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
Free SunSmart app
Cancer Council Australia’s SunSmart campaign has developed a free SunSmart app that is available for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app is fully customisable, allowing you to include your natural skin type, height, weight, age, gender and set your location for anywhere in Australia.
You can also set up a sun protection alert and receive daily reminders for the times of day when UV reaches a level that can damage your skin and eyes, as well as two-hour reminders to re-apply sunscreen. The app also features a Sunscreen Calculator, a Vitamin D Tracker and a 7-day Weather Forecast.
As the saying goes: “Prevention is better than cure”. This is extremely pertinent for sun protection. Ensure that you always implement the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family from the sun.