Scorching temperatures are forecast but it’s no longer enough to just Slip, Slop and Slap.
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That’s according to Cancer Council CEO Sanchia Aranda, who says an average 2.7 million Australians head to the beach each weekend, and 17 per cent suffer sunburn.
The Slip, Slop, Slap generation were lauded last year, as the first generation of under 40’s to record a drop in melanoma rates. However, Ms Aranda says, there is still room for improvement.
“They were the first group to record a drop, and would have been the kids of the Slip, Slop, Slap generation (but) Australia continues to have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world,” she said.
One of every two Australians gets a skin cancer in their lifetime.
“The deadly form is melanoma but the other forms do still cause disfigurement, so protection remains vital,” Ms Aranda said.
In recent years Slip, Slop, Slap has been joined by Seek (out some shade) and Slide (on some sunglasses).
“Prior to that we were sent out into the sun to get healthy,” Ms Aranda said.
“That sun-smart generation had greater awareness but their parents are perhaps less positive role models. Sunscreen is used as a bit of a pseudo-balm, instead of as just one aspect of sun protection.
“Less than half of us wear hats, fewer wear protective clothing (and) we’ve found that too many people aren’t using sunscreen properly, so this summer the Cancer Council is particularly focused on that,” she said.
The latest advice is for a screen selection of between 30 and 50 plus, that’s also broad spectrum and water resistant.
“We haven’t found much difference between the 30 plus and 50 plus but the UVA and UVB protection is essential. It’s also important to put it on 20 minutes before you go outside to give the emulsion time to leave the protective balm. And you must put on enough – at least 5ml per limb, back and neck. For an adult in a bikini that’s 35ml that must be reapplied every two hours and after every swim or towel-dry,” Ms Aranda said.
For children, Ms Aranda prefers the invisible zinc products which don’t contain as many chemicals as other formulations. However, Cancer Council Australia has stopped producing aerosol sprays, which was a popular choice for parents.
“We found that you get very wet with a propellant but you still need to rub it in to get that good application, which people weren’t doing,” she said.
“The critical thing for any sunscreen is to find one that you like the feel of on your skin, because then you are more likely to use it. And always put the kids’ sunscreen on before you leave the house because if you do it once you are at the pool they will jump straight in the water and it will float off their skin.”
It doesn’t have to be hot for skin to burn, which is where gadgets and app downloads that measure UVA and UVB are coming into their own.
“Cancer Council Australia has its own app, as does the Bureau of Meteorology, to keep an eye on what the UV is doing. It measures UV between 10 and 2 – anything below 3 is okay, you can go for a swim and not worry,” Ms Aranda said.
