Seven steps to sun success
Australia is a land of records – not all of which we want to claim. With some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world, skin under the Aussie sun can burn in as little as 11 minutes. As you may expect, this means we have some of the world's highest levels of skin cancer. 1,2 Remember, sun safety isn’t just for big beach days or camping trips: because sun damage is builds up over time, our skin needs protection even when gardening, hanging the washing or picking up the kids from school. The good news is that there is a lot we can do to help prevent against skin cancer. Have you taken these seven steps?
Seven steps to sun success
- Wear a hat and sunglasses – your hair doesn’t fully protect your scalp against UV rays
- Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen to all exposed skin – only specialised fabric has a high SPF
- Reapply every two hours – and after swimming, exercise or towelling dry
- Experiment with sunscreens – there are all kinds of types, matte, spray, gel and more so find the one that you like!
- Know how long you’ve been outdoors – avoiding prolonged exposure is key, so stay in the shade as often as possible
- Keep it up, year around – in Australia, the sun can do damage throughout the four seasons and the UV index can be high throughout the year3
- Check your skin – if a spot or lump changes, get it checked with your doctor or dermatologist
Seven steps to sun success
- Wear a hat and sunglasses – your hair doesn’t fully protect your scalp against UV rays
- Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen to all exposed skin – only specialised fabric has a high SPF
- Reapply every two hours – and after swimming, exercise or towelling dry
- Experiment with sunscreens – there are all kinds of types, matte, spray, gel and more so find the one that you like!
- Know how long you’ve been outdoors – avoiding prolonged exposure is key, so stay in the shade as often as possible
- Keep it up, year around – in Australia, the sun can do damage throughout the four seasons and the UV index can be high throughout the year3
- Check your skin – if a spot or lump changes, get it checked with your doctor or dermatologist
Seven steps to sun success
- Wear a hat and sunglasses – your hair doesn’t fully protect your scalp against UV rays
- Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen to all exposed skin – only specialised fabric has a high SPF
- Reapply every two hours – and after swimming, exercise or towelling dry
- Experiment with sunscreens – there are all kinds of types, matte, spray, gel and more so find the one that you like!
- Know how long you’ve been outdoors – avoiding prolonged exposure is key, so stay in the shade as often as possible
- Keep it up, year around – in Australia, the sun can do damage throughout the four seasons and the UV index can be high throughout the year3
- Check your skin – if a spot or lump changes, get it checked with your doctor or dermatologist
I got burned, now what?
We know, sometimes things don’t go to plan. The idea is to learn from our mistakes – ask yourself questions to find out what went wrong.
For example, did I:
- go swimming before the cream had been applied properly?
- assume the UV index was too low?
- not apply sunscreen at all?
- forget my hat and sunglasses?
Don’t be hard on yourself and try again tomorrow.
I got burned, now what?
We know, sometimes things don’t go to plan. The idea is to learn from our mistakes – ask yourself questions to find out what went wrong.
For example, did I:
- go swimming before the cream had been applied properly?
- assume the UV index was too low?
- not apply sunscreen at all?
- forget my hat and sunglasses?
Don’t be hard on yourself and try again tomorrow.
Four questions your Pharmacist gets about the sun
1. It’s overcast, so I don’t need sunscreen, right?
Wrong. Because it’s UV rays, not heat, which damages our skin, this means we should wear sunscreen even when it’s cloudy, windy or cool outside.
2. Does sunscreen go on before or after makeup?
Before! Sunscreen is the final step in your skincare routine before your foundation. You should still wear sunscreen, even if your makeup say it includes SPF50+ sunscreen.4
3. What about sun safety with a helmet?
No problem! Legionnaire-style covers and flexible wide brims are available to wear with hard hats and cycling helmets.
4. I’m in the habit of checking the UV index, when should I apply sunscreen?
As Pharmacists, we’re in the “always” camp. But certainly when the UV index is above 3. You can be app-solutely sun safe and download an app to tell you the UV index for your location. Get into the habit of checking it when you’re getting ready to leave the house – and always protect your skin when the index is above 3.4