Understanding the lifelong impact of sun exposure

Were you aware that research indicates that if you were severely sunburnt as a child, your risk of developing a melanoma later in life rises by 80 per cent?

There are good reasons you should be following the all-important ‘slip, slop, slap’ guidelines.

It’s probably of little surprise that the incidence of all skin cancers increases the longer you expose yourself to the sun, but that doesn’t mean those of you living in cloudy areas are off the hook.

“Sunscreen helps but isn’t sufficient on its own,” says associate professor Jonathan Stretch from the Melanoma Institute of Australia. “You’ve also got to have physical barriers like clothing and spend time in the shade.

Your family history is also a risk factor you should be aware of when it comes to skin protection in the sun.

There are three main types of skin cancer — melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basil cell carcinoma, the most serious of which is melanoma.

Melanoma can grow very quickly and can become life-threatening in as little as six weeks. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of your body. What’s most concerning is that it can appear on skin that is not normally exposed to the sun.

When it comes to skin cancer there are five letters you should remember that could help save your life:

A = asymmetry

B = border

C = colour

D = diameter

E = evolving.

Stretch says if you have anything on your skin that is new or has changed in its appearance in any way, you should get it looked at quickly.

Research breakthroughs in recent years have tripled the life expectancy of people with advanced melanoma. The Melanoma Institute of Australia says treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapy.

Naturally, the best way to avoid sunburn is to minimise your exposure to the sun during the middle of the day when the UV levels are at their most intense. Seek shade; wear a hat that covers your head, neck and ears; when possible wear sun protective clothing; and always wear sunscreen.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.