skin cancers
Sun Protection
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, mostly caused by over exposure to UV radiation (sunlight). Around 380,000 people are treated for skin cancer and 1300 people die from the disease every year.
Mr. Bloom recommends protecting yourself from the sun. This will not only decrease your risk of skin but also avoid many of the aging effects from the sun. Combining the following methods offers the best protection.
SunSmart UV Alert
The SunSmart UV Alert is reported daily in newspaper weather forecasts across Australia. The alert is used to raise public awareness of the risk of exposure to UV radiation and to encourage people to adopt appropriate sun protection measures.
When the UV Index reaches 3 or above, skin damage and particularly sunburn can occur and the risk of skin cancer increases, so sun protection is required.
The alert identifies the times during the day that the UV index will reach 3 or above, so people know when to adopt sun protection measures.
Shade
Shade is one of the most effective ways to protect against the sun's UV rays.
Clothing
Clothing provides a barrier between UV rays and the skin.
Hats
The correct type of hat shades the face, eyes and neck.
Sunglasses
UV rays can also damage eyes. Some styles of sunglasses provide more protection than others.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be the last method of sun protection.
Based on their mechanism of action, topical sunscreens can be broadly classified into two groups, chemical absorbers and physical blockers.
Chemical absorbers work by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation and can be further differentiated by the type of radiation they absorb, UVA or UVB, or both. Physical blockers work by reflecting or scattering the UV radiation.
Physical blockers are effective at protecting against both UVA and UVB radiation. The two most common physical blockers are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is the system used worldwide to determine how much protection a sunscreen provides, applied to the skin at a thickness of 2 mg/cm2. The test works out how much UV radiation (mostly UVB) it takes to cause a barely detectable sunburn on a given person with and without sunscreen applied. For example, if it takes 10 minutes to burn without a sunscreen and 100 minutes to burn with a sunscreen, then the SPF of that sunscreen is 10 (100/10).
- Apply generously - Most people do not apply enough sunscreen.
- Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors to clean, dry skin. This gives it time to bond to the skin.
- Re-apply sunscreen every two hours or more often if you are swimming or sweating a lot.
- Never use sunscreen to extend the time you would normally spend in the sun.