10 Myths About Sun Protection (PDF)

Be SunSmart Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer Find your local UV levels in the world. This is largely due to our proximity to When the UV Index reaches 3 or above, the equator, a largely fair-skinned population, and be SunSmart and protect your skin. our love of the great...

Be SunSmart Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer Find your local UV levels in the world. This is largely due to our proximity to When the UV Index reaches 3 or above, the equator, a largely fair-skinned population, and be SunSmart and protect your skin. our love of the great outdoors. Fortunately, being You can find your local UV levels at: SunSmart is a simple way to reduce your risk of 10 myths about Cancer Council Australia: developing skin cancer. Cancer Council recommends cancer.org.au a five-step approach to sun protection when the sun protection My UV: For support and information on cancer and UV Index is 3 or above. myuv.com.au cancer-related issues, call Cancer Council 13 11 20. This is a confidential service. Bureau of Meteorology: bom.gov.au/uv National Relay Service Deaf or hearing impaired 13 3677 There’s more to sun Speech impairment 1300 555 727 protection than sunscreen. Cantonese and Mandarin 1300 300 935 Protect yourself in five ways: Greek 1300 301 449 Italian 1300 301 431 Slip Arabic 1300 301 625 on sun protective clothing For further information and details please visit our website cancer.org.au Slop on SPF 30 (or higher) sunscreen Slap on a broad-brimmed hat Seek shade Slide on wrap-around sunglasses In partnership with Be SunSmart with the free SunSmart app available at the Cancer Council 13 11 20 App Store and Google Play THE AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF DERMATOLOGISTS cancer.org.au CAN6620 10/18  MYTH 3 Sunscreen is not necessary when using MYTH 6 Plenty of sun exposure is required to MYTH 8 Only sun seekers get skin cancer. 10 myths cosmetics with SPF. Unless cosmetics are labelled with an FALSE SPF 30 or higher rating, you should wear avoid vitamin D deficiency. Australians shouldn’t expose themselves to FALSE potentially harmful UV in order to get more Excessive exposure to the sun does not FALSE just happen when deliberately seeking about sun a tan. In a high UV environment like Australia, we additional sunscreen under your makeup if you’re vitamin D. Research suggests that prolonged sun can be exposed to dangerous levels of UV radiation going to be in the sun for an extended period. For longer exposure does not cause vitamin D levels to continue during all sorts of daily activities, such as working protection periods of time in the sun, use a separate sunscreen to increase further but does increase the risk of skin outdoors, gardening, walking the dog or having a and reapply it every two hours – not just once in the cancer. When UV levels are 3 or above, most picnic. This sun exposure adds up over time morning. Be aware that most cosmetic products offer Australians get enough vitamin D with just a few increasing the risk of skin cancer. either no protection or protection that is much lower minutes of sun exposure while completing everyday than the recommended SPF 30. tasks – like walking to the car or shops. During peak UV MYTH 9 If you tan but don’t burn, you don’t times, it’s important to reduce your risk of skin cancer need to bother with sun protection. MYTH 4 People with olive skin are not at risk by protecting your skin. There’s no such thing as a safe tan. If skin MYTH 1 Sun damage is not possible on windy, of skin cancer. However, sun protection isn’t generally recommended FALSE darkens, it is a sign of skin cells in trauma, cloudy or cool days. People with olive skin can get skin cancer when UV levels are below 3. If you live in those parts even if there is no redness or peeling. Skin darkens as FALSE too. Regardless of skin type, exposure to UV You can get sun damage on windy, cloudy of Australia where UV levels are low in winter, you a way of trying to protect itself because the UV rays FALSE and cool days. Sun damage is caused by radiation from the sun and other artificial sources, can help maintain vitamin D levels by spending time are damaging living cells. If you tan easily, you are still ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. A cool or such as solariums, can cause skin to be permanently outdoors in the middle of the day and doing some at risk of skin cancer and need to use sun protection. overcast day in summer can have similar UV levels to a damaged. People with skin types that are less likely to physical activity. People who may be at higher risk of warm, sunny day. If it’s windy and you get a red face, it’s burn can still receive enough UV exposure to risk vitamin D deficiency include people with naturally very MYTH 10 You can’t get burnt in the car developing skin cancer. Care still needs to be taken in dark skin, people with conditions or medications that through a window. likely to be sunburn. There’s no such thing as ‘windburn’. the sun. impact vitamin D absorption, those who cover their You can get burnt through a car window. Sun damage is also possible on cloudy days, as UV FALSE Untinted glass commonly used in car side skin for religious or cultural reason and those with radiation can penetrate some clouds, and may even be MYTH 5 You can stay out longer in the sun when little or no sun exposure. If you believe you are at risk of windows reduces, but does not completely block, more intense due to reflection off the clouds. you are wearing SPF 50 than you can with SPF 30. vitamin D deficiency, speak to your doctor. transmission of UV radiation. This means you can Check the daily sun protection times, available online No sunscreen is a suit of armour and still get burnt if you spend a long time in the car next (cancer.org.au or bom.gov.au/uv), in the weather section FALSE sunscreen should never be used to extend MYTH 7 You don’t have to be concerned about to an untinted side window when the UV is high. of newspapers, or on the free SunSmart app. The sun skin cancer because if it happens you will see it, the amount of time you spend in the sun. More commonly, people are burnt in cars with the protection times show when the UV is forecast to be and it is easy to treat. Though it may sound like there is a big difference, windows down, where they can be exposed to high 3 or above. SPF 50 only offers marginally better protection from Skin cancer treatment can be much more levels of UV radiation. FALSE MYTH 2 A fake tan darkens the skin, protecting UVB radiation, which causes sunburn and adds to skin serious than simply having a lesion ‘burnt the skin from the sun. cancer risk. SPF 30 sunscreens filter about 96.7% of UV off’. It can include surgery, chemotherapy and can radiation, SPF 50 sunscreens filter 98% of UV. result in permanent scarring. Skin cancer can also Fake tanning lotion does not improve your spread to other parts of your body. Each year, more FALSE Cancer Council recommends applying a sunscreen that body’s ability to protect itself from the sun, than 2000 Australians die of skin cancer. so you will still need sun protection. Some fake tans is SPF 30 or higher before heading outside, every two hours, after swimming, sweating, or towel drying. Be alert for any new spots or changes to existing spots have an SPF rating but this should not be relied on for and consult your GP immediately if you notice anything continued protection. new or changing. And remember, prevention is always better than cure.