How can I get skin serious with my own skin?
We need to work collectively, nationally, to prevent skin cancer. It can be done!
The best way to reduce your risk of skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun and other sources of ultraviolet (UV) rays.
In Australia, on a summer’s day the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin in as little as five to ten minutes—and that damage is what may later develop into melanoma and other skin cancers. People of all skin tones can develop skin cancer and need to protect their skin from UV radiation, although those with darker skin colours have some added protection.
Learning Hub
Melanoma
Non-melanoma skin cancer
What works?
Avoid the midday sun
The sun’s UV rays are typically the strongest between 10am and 4pm. The UV level changes throughout the day and the risk of sun damage occurs when the UV level is forecast to be 3 or above. You can check the UV level in your local area in Australia at the Bureau of Meteorology website, the SunSmart website or app. Limit exposure to the sun and stay in the shade as much as possible during these midday hours when the UV level is 3 or above.
If you have numerous or dysplastic moles, or if you have had a previous skin cancer, ask your doctor about total-body photography or mole-mapping. Instead of relying on memory to determine whether a mole has changed or is new, some dermatologists and GP clinics offer total-body photography to provide a baseline for comparison at future examinations. Total body photography images can be used in the clinic and at home to allow for comparisons. If your doctor does not offer photography, you can take photos of your moles or lesions yourself to show your doctor.
Wear sun protective clothing and broad-brimmed hats
Your clothes can provide great protection from the sun. Darker coloured clothing is usually more protective than lighter coloured, and a dry shirt is more protective than a wet one. Look for clothing that has a UPF rating, especially if you work outdoors, or plan to spend a long time outside.
For clothing, we can look at the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), which indicates how much of the sun’s UV rays are absorbed by the fabric instead of your skin. For clothing that has a UPF rating such as rash vests or swim shirts, look for UPF of 30 and above. Many of these fabrics have special washing instructions to maintain their UPF, so be sure to follow these instructions to ensure your garments continue to offer their full protective value.
Wearing a broad-brimmed, legionnaire, or bucket style hat is a great way to avoid excess sun exposure. Cancer Council Australia recommends a wide brimmed hat should be at least 7.5cm for an adult and 6cm for children all the way around. Another important tip to keep in mind when choosing a hat is the fabric it is made from. Choose a hat made with dense or closely woven fabric, so the UV rays cannot shine through. Caps and visors do not provide as much protection, so don’t forget to put sunscreen on your ears and neck.
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses (the bigger the better)
UV light can have harmful effects on the eyes and eyelids. It is possible to get a melanoma in the eye, called an ocular melanoma. There are Australian Standards for eye protection (AS/NZS1067). The Standard has five categories of sun protection – choose category 2 or higher. These lenses absorb more than 95% of UV radiation (both UVA and UVB)
Some sunglasses carry an Eye Protection Factor (EPF). Ratings of EPF 9 and 10 provide excellent protection, blocking almost all UV radiation.1
Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher
The “Broad-spectrum” description of your sunscreen refers to the fact that it will protect your skin from both UVB and UVA rays from the sun. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and indicates what percentage of the sun’s UV rays it can block. The higher the SPF rating, the greater the percentage of harmful rays it can block. Other things to check about your sunscreen is the expiration date.
Sunscreen without an expiration date listed has shelf life of no more than three years and less if it’s been exposed to excessive heat or direct sun. Sunscreen should be stored below 30°C. Your sunscreen may be old if it changes colour from white to yellow, changes in consistency, or starts to separate.
Apply sunscreen generously
Most people only apply 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. Unless you slather on a thick layer, you’re not getting the full SPF protection stated on the label. 35ml, 7 teaspoons or approximately a shot glass full of sunscreen is required to cover your whole body. And remember: most sunscreens need time to be absorbed into the skin to work, so they need to be applied about 15 minutes before going in the sun.
Reapply sunscreen often
Many sunscreens lose their efficacy after two hours. It’s important to note that no sunscreen is waterproof or sweatproof. Sunscreen labels may say “water-resistant” which means they have been tested to be effective for up to 40 minutes of swimming. Always reapply sunscreen immediately after swimming, sweating, or towelling.
Cover those tricky spots
Don’t forget tricky spots like your scalp, the tops of your ears (and the whole ear -it’s all exposed!), the back of your neck, and the tops of your feet. Cover these spots with clothing or apply sunscreen. Apply sunscreen to the underside of your chin, which can burn via reflection of the sun’s rays off surfaces such as snow, sand, and concrete.
Wear sunscreen every day, regardless of the weather report
Damaging UV rays can be strong even on overcast days, so use sun protection every day. Protecting yourself from the sun’s rays is important whenever you’re outside or even when you’re on long rides in the car, or if you are sitting where the sun hits your skin
Sunscreen is your last line of defense
Sunscreen should be used along with other sun protection such as staying in the shade, wearing sun protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Wear lipbalm with SPF
Damaging UV rays can be strong even on overcast days, so use sun protection every day. Protecting yourself from the sun’s rays is important whenever you’re outside or even when you’re on long rides in the car, or if you are sitting where the sun hits your skin.
Which sunscreen is right for you?
amaging UV rays can be strong even on overcast days, so use sun protection every day. Protecting
There are many sunscreens available to choose from and University of Queensland melanoma researchers detail the four must haves. These include:
- a SPF factor of at least 30+, preferable 50+
- broad spectrum which filters out both UVA and UVB rays
- water resistant which stays on longer in sweaty conditions or swimming, and
- approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). TGA approved sunscreens can only contain ingredients from an approved list that have been tested for safety
If you have sensitive skin, you may prefer sunscreens with ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which partially reflect and also absorb UV rays. These physical sunscreens are unlikely to cause allergic or irritant rashes.
What about cosmetics with SPF?
Some cosmetics such as foundation or moisturisers also contain a SPF rating, however these are not as tightly regulated as regular sunscreens in Australia.
SPF 30 or higher cosmetics can have good protection when you first apply them. However, same as regular sunscreen, they need to be reapplied throughout the day which is not something we usually do with these products.
Medications That Cause Sensitivity to Sunlight
Certain medications increase your photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the effects of the sun. This sensitivity occurs when you are exposed to UV rays after you’ve ingested or applied a medication that contains an ingredient that becomes toxic when exposed to UV light. The reaction on your skin is called phototoxicity and can include increased burning, hives, rash, and even more serious reactions. A wide variety of topical and systemic drugs (such as some antibiotics and antihistamines) can cause photosensitive reactions, so it is important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can let you know about potential risks.
Teach kids to be skin serious
While you are protecting your own skin, remember to do the same for your children. Start modelling sun protection behaviours while they are young, and it will be more likely to become a part of their everyday routine. Enlist their help in applying sunscreen and use sunglasses and hats on yourself to engage them in sun protective activities. Sun avoidance and using sun protection clothing can start at any age, and babies can start wearing sunscreen after 6 months of age.
Can all skin cancer be prevented?
Skin cancer is a preventable disease. However, some people are at higher risk of developing skin cancer than others. Risk factors for skin cancer include lighter skin type, skin that burns easily, blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair, a personal or family history of skin cancer, a large number or moles, and a history of sunburns. Being an outdoor worker also increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
Skin cancer is highly curable when detected and treated early, so be proactive and perform regular skin self-examinations to look for new or suspicious moles, and visit your GP or dermatologist to evaluate anything changing, itching or bleeding on the skin. To check your skin at home, use the SCAN rule and look for a spot or mole that is
Visit the SCAN website for further details on each criterion. If you are predisposed to skin cancer because you have one or more risk factors listed above, talk to your GP or dermatologist about how often you should receive a whole-body skin examination by a doctor.
Unprotected exposure to (UV) light is the most preventable risk factor, so it’s important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Wear protective clothing, sunglasses and a hat, along with sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when you do venture into the sun, even on a cloudy day.
A tan is seriously skin damaging
Tanning is DNA damage. Simply put, there is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan. While you may like the look of tanned skin, it’s important to understand that the darkening of your skin is evidence of DNA damage.
The ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun penetrate the skin’s epidermis and dermis layers, causing damage to the cells in both layers. The skin tries to prevent further injury by producing melanin, which is the pigment that gives your skin colour, and this darkening of the skin is what we call a tan. A tan will not only increase your risk of skin cancer, but also accelerate wrinkles and aging.
Don’t burn to tan
Some people like the look of tanned skin so much they suffer through a sunburn to get to a tan. Sunburn occurs when your skin cannot produce melanin quickly enough to prevent UV rays from injuring the skin’s surface and the deeper blood vessels. This damage is shown as reddening of the skin, and pain, swelling, and blisters can develop in severe cases. Academic dermatologist Prof H Peter Soyer explains in more detail how the inflammation process during sunburn occurs here. Severe sunburns can cause enough inflammation that people become sick, nauseated and may even end up in hospital.
Sun damage builds up over time, so every time you tan you damage the DNA in your skin, which can have an impact over the course of your lifetime. Cumulative sun exposure is linked to development of skin cancer. In fact, one or more blistering sunburns in childhood could double your lifetime risk of melanoma.