Lifestyle Awareness

Stay Safe in the Sun

As the days grow longer – and warmer – people are being urged to be careful about their exposure to the sun.

Too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun’s rays causes premature ageing of the skin, and skin cancer.

Dr Robles, Consultant Dermatologist at The Kings Oak Hospital and The Garden Hospital offers some tips to help enjoy the summer without sacrificing/damaging your skin.

• A tan only forms when the skin’s DNA – the building blocks of our genes – has been damaged by ultraviolet radiation, whether from the sun itself or a tanning bed. It’s the skin’s way of trying to protect itself against further damage. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.
• People with fair skin, blue eyes and freckles are the most vulnerable to the sun’s damaging effects. This means they burn more easily and have a greater chance of getting skin cancer. Even getting tanned doesn’t prevent this damage, so you should continue to protect your skin.
• You can still be sunburned in the water or when there is light cloud or a breeze, and special care must be taken to protect children, as sun damage can lead to problems in later life. And you don’t need to be sun bathing to get skin damage. This can also happen when gardening or playing sports such as tennis or golf.
• If you are in the sun, cover up with loose, cool clothing and wear a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Think of the sun as a giant nuclear reactor in the sky – do you really want to soak up all its rays?
• Rethink how you will spend your time on holiday. In order to avoid the most damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun, stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm. Take a siesta, or simply rest and read in the shade with a long, cool drink.
• Apply a sunscreen of at least Factor 15 to exposed areas of skin. And re-apply it regularly and generously. Most people don’t use sunscreens thickly enough to get the protection on the label, and it’s easy to forget important places like the neck, temples and ears.
• A tan is only temporary, but sun damage lasts a lifetime – wrinkles, “liver spots” (lentigenes), broken veins and a sallow complexion.
• British Summertime comes and goes all too quickly. Enjoy the sunshine and being outdoors without sacrificing your skin.
• Most dermatologists advise not to sunbathe.
• The only safe tan is a fake tan!

Remember the SunSmart code!

Spend time in the shade between 11 and 3
Make sure you never burn
Aim to cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses
Remember to take extra care with children
Then use factor 15+ sunscreen

Also report mole changes or unusual skin growths promptly to your doctor

Facts about skin cancer:

• Over 70,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK.
• Many cases are not reported so the real number of cases is probably much higher.
• The number of cases has more than doubled since the early 80s.
• Over 2,000 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK.

In fact, there are more skin cancer deaths in the UK than in Australia, even though Australia has more cases of the disease.

Most skin cancers are preventable, the vast majority being caused by exposure to sunlight. There can be a lapse of up to 30 years between UV exposure and the development of skin cancer. Sunburn in childhood is thought to substantially increase the risk of melanoma in later life.

If you have any specific concerns or worries about unusual skin changes please contact your GP.

For more information, visit the website: www.sunsmart.org.uk

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