It appears that many Australians are addicted to a form of high-risk behaviour –excess exposure to the sun.
There seems to be a lingering perception that a tan is healthy. But, the reality is unless you’re born with tanned skin, a tan is evidence of skin damage. So, for people who have inherited the Anglo/Celtic skin type, protection from the sun is a really important health strategy.
So which sunscreen is best for you?
It really depends on how sensitive your skin type is to the sun. Take the test here. The SPF informs consumers of the effectiveness of the sunscreen against sunburn and helps them select a product appropriate to their exposure to the sun. All sunscreens in Australia are regulated to provide appropriate protection as long as they are applied regularly according to the instructions on their labels.
What does SPF in a sunscreen mean?
The SPF (sun protection factor) of a sunscreen is a measure of how well it protects the skin from sunburn.
The SPF is measured on human skin in a laboratory by determining how much time it takes for intense ultraviolet radiation (specifically UVB) to burn skin that has been liberally applied with sunscreen compared to skin that has no application of sunscreen.
For example, if skin protected with sunscreen takes 300 seconds to burn during the test, but only 10 seconds to burn without sunscreen, the SPF is 300/10, which is 30.
How do I use a sunscreen?
Apply sunscreen liberally every two hours. This means at least a teaspoon for each limb, front and back of the body and half a teaspoon for the face, neck and ears. You should apply one cupped adult hand (30 to 40 ml) of sunscreen for an adult body. If you are sweating heavily or swimming, water resistant sunscreen should be used.
What about Vitamin D?
Of course, we know that some sun exposure is healthy. It promotes the process of vitamin D manufacture within our body, and that’s quite apart from our general sense of wellbeing (we don’t feel nearly so happy being confined indoors – or even being outside on cloudy days). With regard to vitamin D, it’s almost impossible to obtain enough from food; in fact we get about 90% of our vitamin D from exposure to the sun. However, it’s important to strike a balance between sufficient sun exposure for adequate vitamin D production and minimising the risk of skin cancer.
How much sun do I need to get Vitamin D?
In most parts of Australia – “tank top” (face, hands and arms) exposure for 10 minutes, three or four times a week during the spring and summer months, is ample time. Short exposure to sunlight is more efficient at producing vitamin D. So the need for vitamin D is no excuse for getting sunburnt.
Sun damage stays with you your whole life.
Remember the adverse effects of sunlight on the skin are cumulative. The damage on and beneath the skin is building up, even without burning. Regular and routine skin protection is essential.
Skin changes.
As important as ongoing protection from the burning rays of the sun is to know what our skin normally looks like and to identify any changes – changes that might indicate an underlying serious condition that requires medical attention. Before your skin check, checkout the website www.knowyourownskin.com.au . You’ll see why skin checks are so important and actually how to check your skin.
Fake tan.
In any event, be proud of your natural skin colour. If you must have a tan, a fake tan is the best option. There are a number of products your pharmacist can recommend which offer a much safer alternative to the sun-induced or solarium-induced variety. But, remember, the colour from a fake tan does not provide protection against UV radiation. And fake tan products that contain a sunscreen only provide protection for a few hours after application – not for the duration of the tan.
