Protect Your Skin

Did you know that Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world?

 

Each year almost 2000 Australians die from this almost entirely preventable disease.

What is UV? 

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the invisible killer that you can't see or feel. UV radiation can be high even on cool and overcast days. This means you can't rely on clear skies or high temperatures to determine when you need to protect yourself from the sun.

Exposure to UV radiation from the sun and other sources, such as solariums, is the major cause of skin cancer.

Australia has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world – in fact, UV radiation is strong enough to cause sunburn in as little as 11 minutes on a fine summer day.

UV radiation from the sun is also one of the best natural sources for vitamin D so a balance is important.

Find out more on UV here. 

 

For the best protection, use all five SunSmart steps:

1. Slip on covering clothing

Choose clothing that covers as much skin as possible, for example, collared shirts with long sleeves. Some clothing may carry an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), which is a guarantee of how much UV protection a fabric provides. 

2. Slop on SPF 30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen

Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before you go outside. The average-sized adult will need a teaspoon of sunscreen for their head and neck, each limb and the front and back of the body. That's about seven teaspoons (35mL) for a full body application. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.

Remember, sunscreen is not a suit of armour and should be used with other sun protection measures. 

3. Slap on a hat

Choose a broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket style hat which shades your face, nose, neck and ears, which are common sites for skin cancers. 

You can shop our collection of lightweight nylon bucket hats with wide brims here. All our hats have a UV 50+ sun protection treatment. Read our care guide here for how to care for your hat and UV treatment. 

4. Seek shade

Use trees, built shade structures, or bring your own (such as a sunshade tent). Shade reduces UV radiation, but it can still reach you via reflection, so make sure you use shade in combination with other sun protection measures. 

5. Slide on some sunglasses

Sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat worn together can reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98%. Sunglasses should be worn outside during daylight hours. Choose close-fitting wraparound sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard AS/NSZ 1067.

Take a SunSmart Quiz here from Cancer Council Australia to find out how you can save your skin.