that you can make…
Fewer Australians are seeking to tan their skin which is great news, but research by Cancer Council Australia shows that more than 50% of people still have a tan from sun exposure, a common sign of sun-damaged skin. Heather Walker, chair of the Skin Cancer Committee at Cancer Council Australia, says, “The most likely culprit [of this] is incidental sun exposure as Australians go about their daily activities.”
“It’s important for all Australians to use sun protection whenever the UV [ultraviolet] level is 3 or above.” Two in three Australians will receive a skin cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It’s important to know how to best protect yourself from the sun all year.
Here are seven common mistakes people make when it comes to sunscreen and how to fix them.
Mistake 1
Skipping sun protection on windy, cloudy or cool days.
Even when the weather isn’t sunny, you should apply sunscreen.
“We need to remind Australians that it’s UV, not heat, that damages our skin,” says Ms Walker. “You can get skin damage on a cloudy or cool day if the UV is 3 or above.” UV radiation comes from the sun and is the major cause of skin damage and skin cancer. This means most Australians should apply sunscreen every day of the year.
To find out what the UV factor is in your area, you could use a mobile app. The Australian Government’s Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has teamed up with Cancer Council Victoria and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to create the SunSmart Global UV app. The app allows you to check the UV level of your local area in Australia and when you’re overseas. The app is free to download on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Mistake 2
Thinking sunscreen will lower your vitamin D levels.
Studies have shown that using sunscreen hardly impacts on vitamin D levels over time. Most of us get enough vitamin D through incidental sun exposure when the UV level reaches 3 and above. If you live where the UV level dips below 3 in winter, you can top up your vitamin D by spending time outside in the middle of the day.
Mistake 3
Going sunscreen-free while walking the dog.
UV damage to your skin doesn’t only happen when you’re at the beach. Next time you’re gardening, walking the dog or picnicking with mates, keep the sunscreen handy.
Mistake 4
Not applying enough sunscreen.
You need at least one teaspoon of sunscreen per limb. That’s one for the front of the body, one for the back and one for the head. In total, it’s around 35ml, or seven teaspoons.
Mistake 5
Forgetting to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming.
You should slop on sunscreen every two hours. You should also reapply it after swimming, sweating or towel drying. This is regardless of what the label says; ‘water resistant SPF 50+’, for example.
Mistake 6
Relying on SPF makeup.
Unless it’s SPF 30 or higher, you should apply sunscreen under your makeup if you’re going outside and the UV level is 3 or higher.
Mistake 7
Using only sunscreen.
Think ‘slip, slop, slap’ (that’s slip on a T-shirt, slop on your sunscreen and slap on a hat). Sunscreen is far from the only protection you need. Apply sunscreen along with protective clothing, shade, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.