How to look after your skin in the sun this summer!
Summer is fast approaching and with the sun comes the beach, outdoor activities and sports becoming more enjoyable – but what about the sun? Find out about the damage it can do and how to prevent skin cancer here!
Being outdoors in summer enjoying a wide range of activities is very satisfying come December each year. The sun however, can cause dramatic damage to the skin and they eyes if appropriate skin care measures are not undertaken. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70 and skin cancer is a major contributor to deaths each week across the nation. The good news is, that with adequate sun protection, you can help minimise the damage that the sun can do to your skin, putting you are a decreased risk of developing skin cancer. Sun damage that is done during the early years of our lives can play a crucial role in the development of skin cancer later on in our lives. It is therefore important that we follow sun protection measures from a very young age. So next time you’re out in the sun, don’t only cover up yourself, but think about your children too!
Read below for further information on how to minimise sun damage to you and your family.
What are the benefits of sunscreen?
Sunscreen helps reduce the amount of UV rays that reach your skin. No sunscreen is 100% effective at blocking UV rays therefore some damage will always be done when you expose your skin to the sun.
Sunscreen is only one step in the process of ensuring that you are sun smart. When purchasing a sunscreen, make sure that it is broad-spectrum and has a rating of at least SPF 30+.
What are some steps that I can take to be sun smart this summer?
- Try to wear clothes with long sleeves that cover your arms and legs. Clothing is the best protection between you and the sun!
- Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF30+ sunscreen 20 minutes before being exposed to the sun and every 2 hours when in the sun. Make sure you apply a generous amount of sunscreen to each section of exposed skin
- Wear a hat that covers your face, neck, head and ears. This doesn’t apply only to adults either! Babies and toddlers need hats just as much as we do. Make sure a well-fitting hat, broad-brimmed or legionnaire hat is chosen
- Seek shade wherever possible. Shade is the most practical form of sun protection. Although shade does not provide 100% protection from the sun, it is better than being in direct sunlight. Natural or man-made – it doesn’t matter!
- You only have one pair of eyes so make sure you cover them up with a pair of sunglasses wherever possible. Choose close-fitting, wrap-around style sunglasses with UV protection included on the label when purchasing a pair
How do I perform a summer skin check?
Summer skin checks are an important tool to identify changes in your skin patterns that may reflect pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions. When undertaking a skin check, it is important to look for the following:
- A skin growth/freckle/mole/spot that has increased in size, shape, colour, opacity, thickness or height
- A spot or mole that continues to itch, crust, scab or bleed or wont heal as normal
- A spot that looks different from the others
If you notice any of these whilst undergoing a skin check, seed medical advice immediately.
What you’ll need: a bright light, a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, 2 chairs or stools, a blow dryer
STEPS:
1. Undress completely and make sure you have adequate lighting. Examine your face, especially the nose, lips, mouth, and ears – front and back. Use one or both mirrors to get a clear view of these areas.
2. Thoroughly inspect your scalp, using a blow dryer and mirror to expose each section to view. Get a friend or family member to help if possible
3. Check your hands carefully: palms and backs, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Continue up the wrists to examine both the front and back of your forearms
4. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, begin at the elbows and scan all sides of your upper arms. Don’t forget to check your underarms
5. Next, focus on the neck, chest, and torso. Women should lift breasts to view the underside aswell
6. With your back to the full-length mirror, use the hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper back, and any part of the back of your upper arms you could not view in step 4
7. Still using both mirrors, scan your lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs
8. Sit down; prop each leg in turn on the other stool or chair. Use the hand mirror to examine the genitals. Check front and sides of legs, thighs, shins, and ankles, tops of feet, between toes and under toenails. Examine soles of feet and heels
Remember:
- Wear clothing that cover your arms and legs
- Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30+
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat that covers your neck, head and ears
- Seek shade where possible
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes
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