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Take sun protection seriously this summer
6 December 2011
It’s time that Victorians started taking sun care seriously, AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley said today.
“By now, Victorians cannot fail to be aware of the risks posed by excessive sun exposure – including the onset of numerous types of skin cancer and eye disease,” Dr Hemley said.
“But the reality is that while doctors and health experts can keep spruiking the public health messages around the importance of sun care in summer, it’s up to individuals to put them into practice.”
Dr Hemley made his comments at the start of the summer season and in response to a report showing that, despite the level of public awareness, many Australians are not adhering to sun safety messages – especially adolescent Australians.1
Findings from the National Sun Protection Survey in 2006-07 demonstrate that only 29% of adolescents and 50% of adults generally wore a hat when outdoors in the peak UV hours (11am to 3pm).
“This is particularly worrying as a high level of sun exposure during adolescence significantly increases a person’s lifetime risk of developing skin cancer”, Dr Hemley said.
According to the Cancer Council, in Australia every year, two in three people will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70, meaning that Australia has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the world.
But the trend is reversible. Skin cancers, and other conditions arising from sun exposure, can be prevented if people begin taking some simple, but effective, steps.
“With the weather set to heat up over coming weeks, people should be starting to incorporate measures into their daily routine to minimise their chances of developing a sun-related illness”, Dr Hemley said.
“At this time of year, there is no excuse for anyone – adult or child – to be outside without a hat and sunscreen. Sunglasses are also an important way to shield your eyes from the sun’s rays.
“In the Australian summer, sun protection is not an option – it’s a must.”
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