Staying safe in the sun this summer 

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I'll admit it. I live in fear of melanoma.

I was a typical kiwi child of the seventies. Spending long hot summers at the bach at Akaroa, playing outside all day long, lounging on the sand down at the beach, in and out of the water from dawn till dusk.

Did I wear sunscreen? Not once. We never really knew it existed. Baby oil was the only thing I put on my skin and some pink watery stuff called Q -tol which had a very strong smell.

I remember the pain of frequent sunburns every summer, as my brother and cousins and I took pride in becoming brown as berries. It was seen as a sign of good health. A fashion statement too for us girls. We used to get the most wicked tan lines and were sadly proud of them.

I recall getting sunstroke once after we all lay on the black-tin carport roof at the bach to get our tans up. The next day three of us girls were in our beds in a darkened room suffering from nausea and headaches, our skin blistered.

In my late teens I still hadn't learned my lesson, despite the growing awareness of skin cancer at the time.

The beach venue had changed from Akaroa to Kaiteriteri, but the quest for the elusive tan had not. I recall getting so badly burned once I had scarring for weeks.     

How things have changed.

Our world-leading melanoma rates are, quite frankly, terrifying. Skin cancer is now routinely hitting people in their forties and fifties, the children of that carefree sun generation. Hardly a week goes by without you hearing of someone having a suspicious mole cut out, or worse.

I've learned my lesson. I too have had a suspected skin cancer removed from my leg.

My children's generation are now being raised to be sun-aware. I don't let my three out in the sun without plenty of sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing.

But while constant media messages and public health education programmes have made us sun-aware, are we truly sun-wise? Or is there some confusion out there still about sunscreens, sun exposure and how best to protect yourself?

I take my lead from the cancer society and their sound messages.

Here are a few key points I've selected.

Using sunscreen safely:

No sunscreen will ever protect you entirely, they filter rather than block out the rays, so you can still burn.

You can't rely on just sunscreen alone between the peak sun hours of 11am and 4pm. Wear a hat and protective clothing as well and stick to the shade if you can.

Use an SPF30+ water-resistant sunscreen, anything less is not going to give you maximum protection. And use a broad spectrum one to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. It is now known that both types cause skin cancer.

Apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before heading out to ensure it absorbs into the skin. Adults need at least 30ml or six teaspoonfuls for a full body application. One teaspoon for each arm and leg, front and back of body as well as half a teaspoon for the face. (Don't forget the ears. Ouch! Burnt ears make it hard to sleep at night).

It's a good idea to apply a second layer of sunscreen before heading outdoors as well, to ensure any areas missed the first time around are covered. The cancer society says it's a bit like painting your house, two coats will give better coverage. Apparently studies have shown we're only applying sunscreens at about half or a third of their recommended application rates, so if in doubt, slather on more!

You must re-apply it after swimming or sweating, even if the bottle says 'water-resistant'. Slather on more every two hours as a general guide.

The ultraviolet index you see on ONE News weather bulletins at night is a guide to the level of UVR in the environment. Anything over level 3 means you need sun protection. At this time of year the UVI is off the scale in New Zealand at 10 or 11. This means full sun protection is essential and finding shade in the heat of the day is a must.

Eye protection is important too. While cancer of the eye is rare, basal cell carcinoma of the surrounding skin is common. Excess UVR exposure may also lead to cataracts in later life. There is no agreement among eye specialists over whether children should wear sunglasses. But it is seen as a good idea to help them develop the habit for future years. Mine have been raised to wear them!

Hats are important. Just wearing a hat alone can reduce the amount of UVR reaching the eyes by 50%. Never let them out the door without a hat on in summer. What's more, a burnt scalp is painful and can lead to a flaky scalp. Not a good look for a teenager concerned with looking 'cool'!

Sun safety: Do you stick to these rules of staying safe in the sun? Do you care? Share your thoughts on the message board below.

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lemur ; 2008-12-22 @ 14:18 NZDT  

its frightening just how harsh the sun is. i've got olive skin and it still really really fries.

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Sunny ; 2008-12-22 @ 13:18 NZDT  

Yes I do stick to the rules of sun safety but it's such a struggle to re-do sunscreen every two hours!

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jules2008 ; 2008-12-22 @ 13:01 NZDT  

Yea I care, but I probably should care more. I'll apply one layer when I get to the beach and think I'm OK until I get home and see all the patches I've missed! But its crazy to think just 30 years things were so different.

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