be sunsmart
hello friends and welcome to today’s episode of unsolicited advice with karajaynetoday
a disclaimer: seek advice from your doctor or local health authorities to see their recommendations for sun safety in your area
skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in australia, and we have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the WORLD
during our summer (december-february) the earth is closer in orbit to the sun, which means that the UV radiation from the sun is about 7-15% stronger in southern hemisphere countries
sunburn, tanning and solariums (which are now banned in aus) increase your risk of skin cancer because they are caused by exposure to uv radiation in sunlight
fake tanning is obviously better than real tanning but IT DOES NOT give you sun protection, so even if you fake tan, you still gotta be sunsmart!!!
things you can do to keep yourself safe in the sun:
use the 5 sunsmart tips:
slip, slop, slap, seek and slide
slip on clothing that covers as much skin as possible if you know you’re gonna be out
slop on some sunscreen - you’re gonna to want AT LEAST a 30+ SPF, you need to apply it 20 MINUTES before going outside and you also need to RE-APPLY every two hours (or more frequently if you’re swimming). calum hood uses a 40+ SPF moisturiser so you should too lol
slap on a hat - get yourself something cute with a nice broad brim so it protects your neck and ears as well as your scalp and your face and nose. A 5sos bucket hat, perhaps???
seek shade - find a nice tree to sit under! take an umbrella to the beach! chill out in a gazebo!
slide on some sunglasses - Sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat worn together can reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98%. plus you look cool and mysterious.
check the weather app on your phone for the UV rating! Sun protection is recommended whenever UV levels reach 3 or higher. Below 3, sun protection isn't recommended unless you are outdoors for extended periods or near reflective surfaces, like snow.
sun safety is not just important in summer! on cloudy days the UV can still be high!!
keep an eye on your skin:
conduct regular checks on yourself and keep an eye on any freckles or moles that might change in shape or size
get an annual skin check with your GP or a skin cancer specialist - they can create a tracking report for you and take photos of anything they think should be monitored, or organise for any concerning spots to be removed
If you’re interested in learning more or finding some recommendations for good sunscreens and other stuff, I can recommend following call time on melanoma on instagram or checking out the cancer council australia website
sorry this turned into a very long post, and it might not be relevant if sun exposure and skin cancer is not a big issue where you live, but it’s an issue that’s close to my heart, so please remember to be sunsmart where you can and look after yourself.
also drink water!!!! hydration is important!!!