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BE
SUN SMART
Summer time is EXTRA protection time
Did you know that two blistering burns before the age of 18
can dramatically increase your risk of getting skin cancer
later in life? This is according to the Cancer Association
of South Africa (CANSA), which runs annual SunSmart
campaigns from November to February.
“Make sure you and your loved ones are SunSmart all year
round, but especially in summertime when the sun’s rays are
the harshest,” says Martha Molete, Head of Communication at
CANSA. “Remember, there is no such thing as a healthy tan.”
CANSA is also calling for sunbeds and sunlamps to be banned,
as they increase by 50% the risk of melanoma - the most
dangerous and often a deadly form of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in South Africa with
almost 20 000 new cases every year and over 700 deaths
annually. But the good news is that skin cancer can be
prevented by respecting the sun and being SunSmart.
Avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 3pm and seek shade where possible.
Cover up by wearing thickly-woven hats with wide brims and
loose-fitting clothes made of tightly-woven fabric that are
cool, but will block out harmful UV rays. Look out for UV
protective swimsuits and beach wear.
Always apply sunscreen of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15
or higher to all exposed skin areas. Re-apply regularly and
after towel-drying or swimming.
Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with UV protection of UV400.
Use lip balm with a minimum of SPF 20 and apply regularly.
Take special care to protect children. Babies younger than
one year should never be exposed to direct sunlight.
Look out for sunscreen and apparel products with the CANSA
Seal of Recognition (CSOR). South Africa is fortunate to
have two sunscreen testing laboratories responsible for
testing and validating all sunscreens with the CSOR. Their
testing methods and criteria are aligned to the most widely
recognized international standards and protocols. Members of
the public can use products bearing this emblem with
confidence. An international working committee that includes
South African representation, is developing a universal
(ISO) standard to rate all UV protection levels.
All CSOR sunscreens must have broadspectrum protection
abilities, meaning they must protect against Ultraviolet A
rays (UVA) and Ultraviolet B rays (UVB). UVA mainly causes
ageing of the skin and UVB causes burning. Both of these are
responsible for skin damage, skin spots, premature ageing
and ultimately skin cancer.
Sunscreens are at present graded with a Sun Protection
Factor, a laboratory measure that assesses their ability to
filter out harmful rays. The number suggests how long it
will take a protected person's skin to burn compared with
someone out in the sun without a sunscreen. The higher the
number, the more protection you should get. For example, SPF
15 means you can spend 15 times as long in the sun than if
you were unprotected before getting burned. If it takes your
skin 10 minutes to burn, you could now stay in the sun for
15 x 10 minutes. However, don't push your sunscreen to the
limit - seek shade much earlier!
CANSA’s SunSmart campaign includes talks, exhibitions and
visits to schools, holiday resorts and beaches. Skin clinics
are also held at holiday destinations, especially on the
beaches where a dermatologist joins the CANSA staff and
volunteers to examine members of the public on request.
To help fight skin cancer, CANSA advocates the following:
• All schools should include wide-brimmed hats as part of
the uniform and move outdoor activities outside the
danger-period (between 10am and 3pm).
• Sufficient shade must be provided for learners during
breaks and outdoor gatherings.
• All outside workers, for example, farmworkers and
construction workers, should be provided with protective
clothing including hats and sunscreen.
• All South Africans should check their skin regularly for
changes, unusual marks or moles. An annual medical
examination should include a skin check. Ask a friend to
check your back and the backs of your legs for spots or
changes you may not notice.
Back to the Cansa page
www.cansa.org.za.
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