Summer time is EXTRA protection time

[Guest Big H]

Newsletter I received from CANSA........ summer is sunburn time..... take care it could cost you your life!!!!!!!

 

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.

For more information, the public can contact CANSA toll free on 0800 22 66 22 during office hours. For interviews or more information, media can contact Martha Molete, Head of Communication at 011 616-7662 or email mmolete@cansa.org.za.

Have a healthy month!
Martha Molete

[JPW#]

Good post but the 10am-3pm rule is nonsense in my opinion. I check the uv level updates on websites  and its sky high from 9am-5pm.