He has co-authored a review of the effectiveness and use of sunscreen in Australia that found that sunscreen is safe for the skin, but the amount of sunscreen and the way it is applied varies considerably between individuals.Īnnual rates of melanoma in women in Australia are 10 times higher than those of women in Europe. You don't feel it until it is too late," says Stuart Henderson, a radiation scientist at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA). You can also get sunburnt on a cloudy day. It is possible to get sunburnt on a cold but clear day. In recent years, research has also shown that sun exposure can cause premature ageing in different skin types, including skin of colour. UV exposure can raise the risk of skin cancer even when it doesn't cause sunburn. Depending on factors such as the UV index and a person's skin type, sunburn can occur in just 10 minutes. While darker pigmented skin generally takes longer to sunburn, all skin types can be damaged by the sun. Don't keep it in the glove box of your car. "If you're at the beach, keep sunscreen in the cooler box with your drinks. She points out that sunscreen should be stored below 30C (86F) because if it overheats, the ingredients will start to separate and lose efficacy. "True allergies to sunscreen are very rare, but when they occur it is usually caused by the extra ingredients in a sunscreen, rather than the sun-protective properties," says Osborne. Experts recommend using sunscreen formulas designed for children, and testing the cream on a small patch of skin first. Sunburn in children can be particularly dangerous, also because they are more likely to suffer from related conditions such as heat stroke. A higher number means the potential damage to the skin and eye increases, and also, that it can occur more quickly. "Babies and young children are particularly susceptible to UV damage, so it's really important that they are well protected whenever the UV index is three or more." The World Health Organization's UV index measures the strength of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun on a given day and place, and ranges from 0 (low) to over 11 (extreme). "A baby's skin is very thin and sensitive, and babies tend to suck on things, which means they could ingest the sunscreen," says Osborne. Instead, appropriate protections for babies include lightweight, loose-fitting clothes that allow airflow, dense shade and a soft hat that will not become a choking hazard. Sunscreen should never be used on a baby who is six months or younger, and a child under one year should not be directly exposed to UV rays, according to the Cancer Council. While most of the guidance around sunscreen is applicable to both adults and children, protecting infants from sunburn requires a different approach. That is when skin cancer develops." Globally, skin cancer was diagnosed in 6.7 million people in 2019, and it killed 118,000. "The cells will repair themselves when the UV exposure disappears, but if you're constantly hitting them with UV there's no chance for them to repair. "The UV sort of 'zaps' the DNA in healthy cells," says Justine Osborne, programme manager at Cancer Council Victoria in southeastern Australia. Since early sun protection can make such a big difference, one key message from Australian experts is for families to be aware of the danger of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and take a few simple protective steps. But in response to that threat, the country has also developed some of the world's most effective measures for skin cancer prevention – which hold powerful lessons for other countries dealing with ever-hotter summers. In fact, melanoma is the most common cancer for Australians aged 20 to 39, and is so common that it has come to be known as Australia's "national cancer" (in the US, it is the third most common cancer in that age group). Just one case of blistering sunburn as a child or teenager has been found to double the risk of developing melanoma, which is the most serious form of skin cancer, later in life.Īustralia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with a prevalence roughly double that of the UK and United States, due to its intense sun. The amount of sun exposure a person has in the first 20 years of their life determines to a substantial degree the likelihood of developing skin cancer, research shows. When it comes to lowering the risk of developing skin cancer, childhood and adolescence are critical periods.
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