Skin cancer prevention
Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and most Australians are at risk. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to burning and tanning in the short-term, as well as premature skin aging and skin cancer in the long-term.
Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is the fourth
most common cancer in NSW and rates are expected to continue rising
unless NSW gets serious about sun protection. The Cancer Institute
NSW is the lead NSW Government agency committed to the prevention
of skin cancer.
Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (either through the sun or
solaria) causes damage to your skin which accumulates over your
lifetime and can lead to skin cancer. Because damage adds up, it's
important to protect your skin, whatever your age.
Here are five easy steps you can take to take to protect
your skin from the sun:
1. Seek shade
Particularly during the hours of 11am-3pm when the sun's UV rays
are their harshest. If this isn't possible, make sure your skin is
still well protected by using the following measures.
2. Wear sun protective clothing
Wear clothes which cover as much of your skin as possible; e.g.:
a loose shirt with a collar rather than a singlet top. When
swimming, wear a wetsuit or rash vest.
Some clothing is specifically designed for sun protection. Sun
protective fabric with a Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating
of 50+ blocks more than 97.5% of UVA and UVB radiation and provides
the highest level of protection.
3. Wear a broad-brimmed hat
Hats need to provide protection for your face, back of the neck,
eyes and ears which are at higher risk of sun damage. A
broad-brimmed hat will provide good shade while a baseball cap
offers little protection. Find a hat which offers good sun
protection but is also practical, well ventilated and suits
you.
4. Wear sunglasses
UV radiation not only damages skin, it also damages eyes. Long
term exposure can cause cataracts and skin cancers of various
tissues of the eye, so it is important to protect your eyes with
sunglasses.
There is an Australian Standard for sunglasses; sunglasses which
meet this standard will provide good protection. Using sunglasses
which wrap around the face and are close fitting will provide the
maximum protection.
5. Apply SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen
Sunscreen strength is rated using the sun protection factor
(SPF) and the highest rating SPF sunscreens in Australia are SPF30+
which filter out 97 per cent of UV radiation.
However, this amount of UV radiation will only be filtered out
if enough sunscreen is used and used properly. For an average sized
adult a generous amount of sunscreen should be used; approximately
35ml, or seven teaspoons, are needed to cover the body.
Sunscreen should be applied over all areas of exposed skin 20
minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours (or
sooner if you've been swimming or sweating).
Make sure your sunscreen is 'broad spectrum' and
'water-resistant'.
Our campaigns
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The Wes Bonny Testimonial Campaign tells the true story of a 26
year young man who died of melanoma in March 2010. Wes' story
demonstrates that melanoma does affect young people. It also
acknowledges that people know how to protect themselves from the
sun, they just need to be more vigilant about sun protection.
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The Dark Side of Tanning Campaign demonstrates the dangers of
tanning and the damage to the skin that can happen to skin even
before it starts to show signs of burning.
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The Cancer Institute NSW and the Cancer Council NSW implemented
a melanoma awareness campaign in summer 2006/07. The campaign aimed
to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection.
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In summer 2005/06, Bondi lifesavers delivered the message that
melanoma kills and the importance of using sun protective measures
that reduce one's risk of melanoma.
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