Skin cancer is the most common cancer
diagnosed in Australia. Every year, over
380,000 Australians are treated for skin
cancers. Of these, there are about 8,000
new cases of melanoma. Each year there
are over 1,000 deaths from melanoma.
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer
in the world, with one in two Australians
developing skin cancers in their lifetime.
The major cause of skin cancer is too much
exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the
sun. Skin can burn in as little as fifteen
minutes in the summer sun so it is important
to protect your skin from harmful UV
radiation.
Solariums or sunbeds also emit harmful
levels of UV radiation up to five times as
strong as the summer midday sun.
Skin cancer is almost totally preventable by
using a combination of SunSmart strategies
to protect yourself from UV radiation.
Limit sun exposure
Plan your outdoor activities to avoid peak UV
radiation times (between 10am to 3pm) when
UV levels are in the moderate to extreme
range.
Seek full shade
Staying in the shade is one of the most
effective ways to reduce sun exposure.
Whatever you use for shade, make sure it
casts a dark shadow and use other protection
(such as clothing, hats, sunglasses and
sunscreen) to avoid reflected UV radiation
from nearby surfaces.
Slap on a broad brimmed, legionnaire
or bucket style hat
A brimmed or legionnaire style hat provides
good protection for the face, nose, neck and
ears which are common sites for skin
cancers. Caps and visors do not provide
adequate protection. Choose a hat made
with closely woven fabric – if you can see
through it, the sun will get through. Hats may
not protect you from reflected UV radiation,
so also wear sunglasses and sunscreen to
increase your level of protection. Hat Guidelines for NT schools
Slip on sun protective clothing
Clothing can be great for protecting you from
the sun. When choosing clothes you need to
consider both the design and material.
Choose designs that cover as much skin as
possible (eg long sleeves and high necks).
Materials that have a close weave such as
cotton, polyester/cotton and linen.
Darker colours will absorb more UV
radiation and reflect less onto your face.
Materials made for swimming, such as lycra, stay sun protective when wet.
Wear close fitting sunglasses Sunglasses are an important way of reducing
eye damage from UV radiation. Sunglasses
and a SunSmart hat worn together can reduce
UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to
98%. Choose close-fitting wrap-around
sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard
AS 1067. Sunglasses are as important for
children as they are for adults.
Slop on sunscreen Sunscreen should not be used to increase the
amount of time you spend in the sun and
should always be used with other forms of
protection. Choose a broad-spectrum, waterresistant
SPF 30+ sunscreen. Apply sunscreen
liberally to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes
before going outside and reapply every two
hours.
Check your skin regularly and see a doctor
if you notice any unusual skin changes.
If you have a lesion that doesn’t heal, a mole
that has suddenly appeared, changed its size,
thickness, shape, colour or started to bleed ask
your doctor for a skin examination. The sooner
skin cancer is discovered, the more successful
treatment will be.
Ways to reduce your cancer risk
How do you stack up?
(Tick if you need to take action)
Quit smoking
Be SunSmart
Keep to a healthy weight
Be more physically active
Eat a healthy, well balanced diet
Avoid or limit alcohol intake
Skin cancer is the most common cancer
diagnosed in Australia. Every year, over
380,000 Australians are treated for skin
cancers. Of these, there are about 8,000
new cases of melanoma. Each year there
are over 1,000 deaths from melanoma.
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer
in the world, with one in two Australians
developing skin cancers in their lifetime.