Sun safe facts

Skin cancer can develop in young people. In NSW, melanoma is the most common cancer in women aged 15-29 and men aged 25-54. Melanomas don't always occur in parts of the body often exposed to the sun - they can grow anywhere. The best way to avoid skin cancer is to be safe in the sun.

Ask your doctor to check any spots regularly. Get to know your skin and if you notice anything new or unusual see your doctor immediately. It takes less that 30 minutes to get sunburnt. In some parts of NSW you can get sunburnt in as little as 11 minutes. This is because NSW is exposed to high levels of UV radiation all year round.

Make sure children playing at home are supervised so:

• sunscreen is frequently reapplied
• appropriate clothing, hats and eye protection are worn, and
• that they're indoors during peak UV radiation times.

Unplanned and irregular exposure to the sun can often result in sunburn because people haven't done anything to protect themselves from the sun.

Make sure children are aware they need to 'slip, slop, slap' any time they are in the sun. UV radiation can cause irritation and irreversible eye damage, resulting in cataracts or cancer on the eye's surface. Choose close-fitting sunglasses that offer UV protection and meet the Australian Standard. Some glasses also have an EPF (Eye Protection Factor), with 10 being the highest.

Sunscreen is not toxic. There is no evidence of any bad or harmful long-term effects associated with the use of sunscreen. The chemicals used in sunscreens available in Australia have been tested and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration as being safe and effective. Sunscreen should never be relied on as the only form of sun protection. It should always be used in conjunction with a range of sun protection behaviours such as wearing appropriate clothing, hats and sunscreen, avoiding peak UV radiation times and encouraging children to play in the shade where possible.

One application of sunscreen in the morning does not provide all-day protection. You should reapply sunscreen every 2 hours - more often if you have been swimming, sweating or exercising. No sunscreen provides 100% protection. As a rule of thumb, sunscreen with an SPF 30+ provides the skin with 30 times the amount of protection than going without sunscreen. However, this time may depend on correct application and weather conditions.

There are two types of sunscreen available:

• Absorbers - that act to soak up UV radiation and prevent it reaching the skin. Look out for sunscreen labelled 'broad spectrum'. This means it blocks out UVA and UVB rays, both of which contribute to sunburn, skin ageing and skin cancer.
  
• Reflectors - such as zinc cream that reflect UV rays away from the skin. These sunscreens should only be used on small areas of the skin as they can limit heat loss and perspiration.

Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time spent in the sun.

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