With temperatures soaring right across Australia, many take to the white sands of beaches to try to escape the heat. But alas the sun can really spoil the events initially with sunburn but later can result in cancers.
The Cancer Council Victoria’s SunSmart manager Sue Heward advises how to avoid looking like a leather handbag.
1. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must
“There are different types of ultraviolet [UV] radiation,” says Heward. “UVA penetrates deep into the skin, affecting the living cells lying just under the skin’s surface. It causes damage like wrinkles, blotchiness, sagging and roughening. UVB digs just below the top layer of skin and is the main cause of skin cancer.” Thankfully, broad-spectrum sunscreen filters both UVA and UVB radiation.
2. Don’t just rely on sunscreen
“Sunscreen alone doesn’t provide complete protection from the sun, you’ll need other safeguards, too,” says Heward. When the UV Index is 3 and above (usually September to April), the Cancer Council recommends you slip, slop, slap and seek shade and slide on sunglasses.
3. Application is key
Smooth on a generous amount of broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen to clean, dry skin 20 minutes before going out into the sun. “Average sized adults should apply over half a teaspoon of sunscreen (about 3ml) to each arm, as well as the face and neck area, including ears. Use one teaspoon (about 6ml) on each leg, and do the same for the front and back of the body,” explains Heward. That’s around 33ml of sunscreen for one full-body application.
4. Absorb or reflect
“Sunscreen works by creating a barrier on the skin that either absorbs the UV rays or reflects them. It depends on which ingredients are in the cream, but both are safe and effective,” says Heward. If you’ve got sensitive skin and have had a reaction to sunscreen before, try a fragrance-free product, like Banana Boat Sensitive Sunscreen SPF30+.
5. Ensure you top up
If outdoors, Heward recommends that you reapply sunscreen every two hours, as it can easily wipe or sweat off . Also, remember to top up after swimming or any water sport.
For more information check out the Victorian Sun Smart home page by clicking HERE
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