Preventing melanoma skin cancers

Preventing melanoma – hats, sunnies, cover ups and shade!

What you need to know to protect yourself

Australia has the second highest rate of melanoma skin cancer in the world. Why? In a nutshell, because we love our outdoors – for gardening, swimming, golfing, sport, hiking, biking, sailing, walking, lunching and well, just hanging out and reading a book or chatting to a friend over a coffee at the local cafe.

But if you’re going to engage in all those wonderful outdoor activities, it’s critical that you know how to avoid getting skin cancer.

As with almost anything medical – prevention is always better than cure. But just how do you go about preventing skin cancer?

Well, the most obvious thing is sunscreen. We recommend using an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen when you go outside. But remember, an SPF 50 doesn’t mean you can stay out twice as long!!

10 more tips to prevent melanoma skin cancers

1. The beach is a great Aussie past time, but make sure you don’t get sunburned. Always, always, always practice sun safety.
2. Avoid ‘tanning’ – there is no good outcome from this. If you absolutely have to have ‘golden’ skin there are a raft of wonderful fake tans available. You can either have them applied in the salon or you can do it at home (you might want to exfoliate first – and do a skin check whilst you’re at it).
3. Stay in the shade, especially in the middle of the day – we’d say from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4. Wear protective clothing, a broad brimmed hat, and UV blocking sunglasses.
5. Use a sunscreen at SPF 15 or higher daily. For longer outdoor periods – especially when swimming or exercising, use one that is water–resistant with SPF 30 or higher.
6. Apply 3 cubic centimetres of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.
7. Reapply your sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
8. Examine your skin head-to-toe every month, just like doing a breast or testicular self-examination. Being aware of changes in and on your body saves lives.
9. Keep newborns and babies out of the sun – period! Why, because you can’t protect them using sunscreen. According to the Australasian College of Dermatologists, very young babies (less than six months of age) absorb more of any chemical that is applied to the skin than do older children and adults. For this reason, widespread and constant use of chemical sunblock is not endorsed. However, for older babies (6months plus) and toddlers, there are many baby or toddler formulas that are protective and suitable for their sensitive little skins. From age three, let your children practice applying sunscreen, so they can do it themselves when getting ready for pre-school and school. Of course you’ll probably need to supervise so it doesn’t end up all over the bathroom (or the dog).
10. Book a yearly appointment for a skin cancer check.

So if you hadn’t started protecting your skin ages ago, start now. Protecting your skin and covering up can still make a world of difference.

If you’re worried about a spot on your skin or you used to be a sun worshipper, consider a skin cancer check-up. We’d be delighted to assist you. You can book your appointment by calling us on 999 0336 (Northern Beaches) or 9223 1608 (Sydney CBD), or by dropping us a note via the form below and we’ll be in touch.