National Skin Cancer Action Week (19-25th Nov 2017) has come and gone, however, the skin protection message remains as strong as the sun.
New Cancer Council research shows that more than 2.7 million Aussies are forgetting to slip on a shirt to protect themselves from the sun and that an alarming number of adults are getting sunburnt on summer weekends. Overall the proportion of adults slipping on clothing to protect themselves from the sun has decreased from 19 percent to 17 percent in the last three years.
We need to be more vigilant, including on cloudy days.
Two in three Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70 and more than 2,000 people in Australia die from skin cancer each year. Yet most skin cancers can be prevented using good sun protection.
To encourage Australians to remember to use the five forms of sun protection, we are inviting everyone to join the #SunSmartGeneration.
Today’s children have grown up with the SunSmart message and are our most sun savvy generation ever. Parents understand the importance of protecting their little one’s skin with rashies, hats, sunglasses, shade and sunscreen. However, it’s important that adults protect their own skin too. It’s never too late to prevent further damage and parents play an important role in setting a good example for their kids.
During National Skin Cancer Action Week, but throughout summer, Australians of all ages are urged to use the following forms of sun protection:
- slip on sun-protective clothing and swim hats and accessories
- slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen
- slap on a broad-brimmed hat
- seek shade
- slide on sunglasses or prescription lens coatings
- car window tinting, shade shelters
A combination of these measures, along with getting to know your skin and regularly checking for any changes, are the keys to reducing your skin cancer risk.
National skin cancer action week 2017 resources
(Reference: Cancer Council of Aust)