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The PHARMACIST talks about …

Sun Protection

The sensible way to save your skin from sun damage.

There's no doubt about it, sun is very hard on your skin. In fact, excessive sun exposure is the primary cause of skin cancer.

The more sun you're exposed to, the greater the risk you have of developing skin cancer. And while it's both preventable and curable, it can also be extremely serious.

When the sun's ultra violet rays penetrate the skin they injure living cells, making them swell and the skin burn. In an effort to prevent further injury, your skin develops a tan - but this, in fact, is its attempt to defend itself against the harshness of the sun.

What is a sun tan?

A tan is literally skin damage - damage that builds up, year after year, tan after tan. A tan does not protect or prevent you from getting skin cancer. Apart from the risk of skin cancer, over-exposure to sun makes skin dry, wrinkled and less elastic. Once this has happened, no lotion can reverse the process.

In Queensland, we have a sort of 'sun culture' - a lifestyle and climate that encourages staying out in the sun for long periods of time while wearing as little as possible - a lifestyle which is at odds with our fair complexions. As a result, Queensland has the highest incidence of skin cancer anywhere in the world.

Major skin risk times are between the hours of 10am and 3pm.

You are particularly at risk if you:

  • work outdoors;
  • get large and sudden doses of sun on the weekend after working indoors all week;
  • have a bald head;
  • or are a fair skinned newcomer to the hot Australian climate.

Skin Cancer

Babies, small children and elderly people are also highly sensitive to UV radiation. The average skin begins to suffer damage in the sun after about 10 minutes. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia - 2 out of every 3 Queenslanders will be affected by it. Most serious is any change in the colour, size or shape of a mole or freckle.

This could be the sign of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer. If untreated, it tends to rapidly invade other tissues and spread throughout the body. Over 1000 Australians died from malignant melanomas last year - Australians as young as thirteen.

The best protection against skin cancer is to minimize exposure to the cause - exposure to the sun. Precautions... Wherever you are, try to take these simple precautions:

  1. Avoid being in the sun, particularly midday sun, as much as possible
  2. When outdoors, SLIP SLOP SLAP is the key. Wear a shady hat and protective clothing such as shirt with sleeves, a beach jacket etc. Use SPF 30 or 30+ Broad spectrum sunscreen on any exposed parts of the body
  3. Whatever your skin type, maximum protection SPF 30+ sunscreen is advisable - use it when working, gardening, walking to the shops, playing sport, as well as on the beach. But don't rely on one application if you are outside for a long period time, particularly if you are perspiring or you've been swimming. It's important that your skin is dry before you apply sunscreen
  4. Because skin damage is cumulative, teaching sensible sun habits from a young age will reduce the risk of skin cancer later on

Encourage children to wear hats and protective clothing - make it more fun by allowing them to choose hats, shirts and bright coloured zinc themselves.

If you require any further information please contact our friendly staff at your nearest Healthpoint Chemist.

Please Note: The advice on this website is to be used as an educational aid only. It is not intended to replace advice from your qualified GP or medical practitioner. Please ensure that you speak to them in relation to all of your health issues.