DD HEALTH: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland with over 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year.
The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) expects this number to double by 2040.
Most cases are caused by UV radiation from the sun–even on cloudy days.
You can reduce your risk by following the Irish Cancer Society SunSmart Code:
Seek shade; Cover up with a hat, long-sleeve clothes and sunglasses; Put on sunscreen; and stay aware of what the UV index is – the higher the index, the more care you need to take.
Skin cancer is a disease of skin cells. Nine out of every ten cases are caused by UV rays from the sun or sunbeds. Overexposure to UV rays, which leads to tanning, redness or burning of the skin, causes damage to skin cells.
While much of this damage is repaired some remains and can lead to skin cancer later in life.
Reduce your risk by following the SunSmart code.
Step 1: Seek some shade
Spending time in the shade is the most effective obvious thing you can do to avoid being in the sun too long. Good shade can give up to 75% protection from UV rays.
Good shade needs to protect from direct and indirect UV rays. It also needs to be comfortable and attractive.
When outdoors, UV rays can reach you in one of two ways:
Directly from the sun
Indirectly scattered by clouds or particles in the atmosphere. They can also reflect from surfaces like snow, sea water and concrete
Some UV rays can pass through windows. Generally car, home and office windows block most UVB rays but less of the UVA rays. As a result UV radiation that comes through windows probably doesn’t pose a great risk to most people unless they spend long periods of time close to a window.
If you are someone who sits at a window all day or drives a lot in the course of your day, you need to use clothes and sunscreen to protect your skin.
Step 2: Slip on some clothes
One of the simplest things you can do to protect your skin from UV rays is to cover it with clothes.
Choose clothes that cover as much skin as possible. For example, wear a shirt with a collar, three-quarter length sleeves and three-quarter length trousers.
Some fabrics give better UV protection than others. Here is information about what to consider when deciding what to wear:
Clothing offering better sun protection:
Linen, cotton and hemp let less UV rays through.
Dark clothes block more UV rays than light coloured clothes.
UPF* clothes block UV rays from passing through.
Clothing that doesn’t offer much sun protection:
Stretched fabrics let more UV rays through to skin.
Wet fabrics let more UV rays through to skin.
Old threadbare fabrics let more UV rays through to skin.
Slap on a hat
Make sure the hat gives shade to the face, neck, head and ears. A baseball hat is not ideal as it does not give enough shade. Good examples are a broad brimmed, bucket or legionnaire style hat.
Choose a hat for a child that is comfortable and that they like. This way they are more likely to wear it. However, you may have to insist that they wear the hat as part of their outfit before it becomes a habit. Being a good role model will help too.
*Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF)
Some manufacturers produce clothes and hats especially treated to block UV rays from reaching the skin. You will notice these clothes particularly in beach wear for children. They generally come with the UPF ratings.
No UPF clothing will give 100% protection from UV rays and so need to be used with shade and sunscreen.
Here are the UPF ratings for clothes:
UPF 15-24: Blocks 93.3-95% UV radiation
UPF 25-39: Blocks 96-97.4% UV radiation
40 and over: Blocks 97.5% or more UV radiation
Source: Standards Australia 1996
Make sure it gives shade to the face, neck, head and ears. A baseball hat is not ideal as it does not give enough shade. Good examples are a broad brimmed, bucket or legionnaire style hat.
Make sure to pack a bucket or legionnaire hat – it’s a lifesaver!
Step 3: Wear sunglasses
Your eyes can be damaged by UV rays too.
Short-term UV exposure can result in mild irritation, difficulty with bright lights, excessive blinking and sunburn of the part of the eye known as the cornea.
Long-term exposure can result in cataracts and cancer.
Choosing to wear a hat that gives shade to the eyes and sunglasses that give UV protection can help protect your eyes from these conditions.
Eye damage from UV rays can start at an early age. For this reason it is a good idea to protect children’s eyes with sunglasses when they are old enough to wear them. Make sure the glasses fit well and that they are not a safety hazard.
Toy sunglasses do not provide protection from UV rays. If a child refuses to wear sunglasses don’t forget that a broad brimmed hat and shade will also give some protection.
When choosing your sunglasses:
Go for wrap-around ones.
Make sure they give UV protection.
Check tags to make sure they give enough protection. Look out for:
European Standard EN1836.
British Standard BS 27241987
Step 4: Use sunscreen
When in Ireland wear sunscreen from April to September to reduce your risk of skin cancer. But remember, using sunscreen alone will not give enough protection against UV rays. It is important to use shade, clothes and sunglasses too. In this way you get the best possible protection from UV damage.
The type of sunscreen you use is up to you and what you feel comfortable putting on your skin. Creams, lotions, gels and sprays all work but only if used properly.
Here are some tips to consider when choosing and using sunscreen:
Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher (SPF 30 or higher for children) and UVA protection
Apply to dry skin 20 minutes before going outside
Be extra careful of those areas that do not get much sun, they will burn more easily
For the average adult you will need 35mls of sunscreen to cover the whole body. We recommend using a measure of half a teaspoon of sunscreen to cover each arm, the face, neck and ears. Use a measure of one teaspoon for each leg, the front and the back of the body.
Reapply every two hours
Check the products use-by date and store it below 30°C
Choose a water-resistant type if sweating or you are involved in watersports
Always check for the UVA logo on the bottle
Step 5: Know the UV index
When the UV Index is 3 or more you are at greater risk of skin damage that can lead to skin cancer. Get into the habit of checking the UV Index as a reminder of the need to be SunSmart every day from April to September.
Protecting children from UV damage
While skin cancer is rare in children much of the UV damage that leads to skin cancer takes place in the early years of life. Children’s skin is also more sensitive to UV radiation than adults. For these reasons it is important to protect their skin and encourage them to be SunSmart from an early age. Habits learned at this stage in life will stand to them throughout life.
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