Health
Skin Cancer Action Week 21- 27 November
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in three people developing skin cancer at some time in their lives. Research has established that childhood and adolescence are both critical periods during which sun exposure could contribute to skin cancer later in life.
There are five simple things you can do to protect yourself and greatly reduce your risk of skin cancer:
- Slip on sun protective clothing. Look for clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Look for material with high UV Protection Factor (UPF)
- Slop on spf 30+ or 50+ sunscreen. Sunscreen should not be relied on as the only form of sun protection. No sunscreen provides 100% UV protection – remember to use in combination with protective clothing, shade, hats and sunglasses
- Slap on a shady hat. Slap on a hat that provides as much shade as possible to your face, head, neck, ears and eyes. There are three main styles of hats that provide adequate sun protection:
- Broad brimmed – brim of at least 7.5 cm
- Bucket hats – with deep crown and brim of at least 6cm
- Legionnaire hats- should have a peak of at least 6cm. The side flap and front peak should meet the ears to provide protection to the side of the face.
- Seek shade
- Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian standards
A combination of these measures, along with getting to know your skin and regularly checking for any changes, are key.
If you notice any unusual skin changes, consult your doctor.
Jenny Hill
College Nurse
Source: Cancer Council WA