Safe in the Sunshine

25/08/2025

👒Stay Sun-Safe with a Wide-Brimmed Hat! 🌞
A wide-brimmed hat provides shade for your face, neck, and ears. 🧢 It reduces UV exposure, lowering the risk of sunburn and skin damage.

☀️ Consistent use can significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Pair your hat with sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective clothing for full protection. 🧴🕶️👕

As we know, Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer due to high UV radiation levels. Remember your hat next time you step outside!

Stay sun-smart and enjoy the outdoors safely! 🌞💪

21/07/2025

🌞 Stop Sunburn in Its Tracks! Here are our top tips to prevent sunburn:
1. Seek Shade During Peak Hours: Avoid direct sun exposure when UV rays are strongest. 🌳
2. Regular Skin Checks: Perform regular self-examinations and schedule check-ups with a healthcare professional to catch any early signs of skin damage. 🔍🩺

Why Prevent Sunburn?
In Australia, UV radiation is a major concern due to our unique environment. The high UV Index makes sun exposure risky. Sunburn is not just a temporary discomfort; it can have serious long-term effects on your skin health.

Repeated sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Protect your skin and enjoy the sun safely! 🌞💪

07/07/2025

❄️ Winter is here, but UV rays are still strong! ☀️

Even though the temperatures have dropped, it’s important to remember that UV rays can still damage your skin. In most places in Australia, UV radiation remains high throughout the year due to our geographical location and clear skies. 

Here are some tips to stay protected during the winter months:
* Ensure you are Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Sliding, even on cloudy days. 🧴 🧢🕶️
* Check the UV Index: Keep an eye on the UV index and take extra precautions when it’s 3 or above. 📊

Let’s stay sun-smart all year round and protect our skin from harmful UV rays! 🌞💪

23/06/2025

Fact: Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. 🌏

It’s crucial for us to come together to raise awareness and reduce the risk of melanoma.

Here are some essential awareness measures:
* Self-Examinations: Learn how to perform self-examinations and check your skin monthly for any changes. 🔍
* Education: Educate yourself and others about the signs and symptoms of melanoma. (See ourpost on how to SCAN your skin!!) 📚
* Sun Safety Practices: Follow sun safety practices like protective clothing, seeking shade wearing and sunscreen. 🧴🧢🌳
* Community Outreach: Participate in community outreach programs to spread awareness about melanoma. 🌍

By following these measures, we can help protect ourselves and our communities from the dangers of melanoma. Let’s make skin health a priority and spread the word! 🌞💪

09/06/2025

🌍 Did you know?
Melanoma can affect people of all skin tones. It’s important for everyone to be sun-smart and take precautions to protect their skin. 🧴✨

☀️ No matter your skin type, when you are out in the sun when the UV is 3 and above make sure to:
* Slip on a shirt 👕
* Slop on sunscreen 🧴
* Slap on a hat 🧢
* Seek shade 🌳
* Slide on sunglasses 🕶️

Let’s spread awareness and stay safe in the sunshine! 🌞💪

02/06/2025

'Get a skin check' has been a public health mantra for years in Australia. But with a workforce shortage and overstretched services, how can Australia's health system deliver on that? Can technology help?

Professor Victoria Mar shares how the ACEMID team are doing the slow, hard, and necessary work to understand if and how high-quality imaging and AI could help drive early detection of skin cancers in our country.

If we’re to balance benefit, harm, cost and access for skin cancer detection, we need to think critically, plan carefully, and keep patients at the centre of every decision we make.

26/05/2025

🧍‍♂️🧍‍♀️Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, not just in sun-exposed areas.

👀 Be vigilant and check your skin regularly! 

Look for any unusual changes and consult a healthcare professional if you notice anything suspicious. 🩺

Let’s stay proactive about our skin health and spread awareness! 🌞💪

12/05/2025

Did you know?
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, but if caught early, 90% of melanomas can be cured! 🩺✨

🔍 Early detection is key! Regularly check your skin for any unusual changes and consult a healthcare professional if you notice anything suspicious. 🕵️‍♂️

🌞 Stay safe in the sun! Seek shade, apply sunscreen and wear protective clothing when out in the sun. 🧢🕶️

Let’s raise awareness and take action to stay safe in the sunshine! 🌞💪

05/05/2025

28/04/2025

☀️🧴How much sunscreen should I apply?

Use a generous amount, ensuring at least one teaspoon per limb, one for the front of your body, one for the back, and one for your head. 

For full-body coverage, an adult should use at least 35mL, or seven teaspoons of sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours.

Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outside. Stay ! 🌞

21/04/2025

Skin cancer develops when skin cells are damaged, such as from excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun ☀️

‼️ There are 3 main types of skin cancer: 
• basal cell carcinoma (BCC) 
• squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) 
• melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are types of non-melanoma skin cancer, also known as keratinocyte cancers.

Keratinocyte cancer is more common in men, with nearly twice the incidence seen in women. 

The Cancer Council reports every year in Australia: 
• skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers 
• the majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun 
• the incidence of skin cancer is one of the highest in the world, two to three times the rates in Canada, the US and the UK. 🌏

14/04/2025

While SPF50+ provides slightly better protection than SPF30, the difference is minimal. 

SPF30 filters about 96.7% of UV radiation, while SPF50+ filters 98%. Both protect against UVB radiation, which causes sunburn and increases skin cancer risk. 🌞🧴 

Cancer Council recommends applying SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen before going outside and reapplying every two hours, or after swimming, sweating, or towel drying. 🕒🏊‍♂️