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Five sunscreen myths that jeopardise your sun safety

There is a lot of information around about which type of sunscreen or which sun protection method is best, but which sources should we trust? According to the Cancer Council and SunSmart, a water resistant sunscreen with at least a SPF 30+ rating should be used.  These organisations, along with the Australasian College of Dermatologists, say sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before heading outdoors.

Sunscreen provides a protective barrier between your skin and the sun by adding a layer of chemical absorbers and physical blockers to your skin. Chemical absorbers absorb UV radiation before it comes in contact with the skin, and physical blockers cause the UV radiation to reflect off the skin.

What about some of the other myths or practises that you may have heard in the past? What’s right and what’s wrong and who should be believed? Here are some answers to common sunscreen myths for you to consider: […]

By |March 3rd, 2016|Facts & Myths, Skin Cancer Risk, Sun Protection|0 Comments
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Five ways to reduce your chances of skin cancer

According to Cancer Council Australia, two out of three Australians will suffer from skin cancer by the age of 70. This means the majority of our population will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime! This is a worrying statistic, however, it is one that can be lowered.

 So what actions can we take now to help reduce our chances of skin cancer?

The “slip, slop, slap” slogan is well known to many older Australians, however Cancer Council Australia has added another two actions to this list: slip, slop, slap, seek and slide; slip on protective clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses. These steps aim to limit sun exposure helping to decrease your risk of skin cancer. This is because skin cancer is caused by overexposure to harmful UV radiation from the sun, causing damage to skin cells. An SPF 50+ sunscreen will help to block these damaging rays and it’s worthwhile considering using a water resistant protector, as perspiration and beach or pool water will remove non-water resistant creams. Keep in mind your initial application should be 20 minutes before you head outdoors and it should be reapplied every two hours.

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By |January 12th, 2016|Skin Cancer Prevention, Skin Cancer Risk|0 Comments
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Arm Mole Count May Predict Skin Cancer Risk

The results of a recently published study may make it easier for doctors to quickly assess a patient’s risk of melanoma. According to the study, which was conducted by a team of researchers from King’s College London, people with 12 or more moles on their right arm may have a greater risk of skin cancer compared to other people.

Whilst not disregarding other important melanoma risk factors, this is a quick way for GPs to assess a patient’s risk of melanoma by simply counting the number of moles on their patient’s right arm.

Presence of pre-existing moles is one of the first things doctors look for while performing a skin cancer check. The reason for this is that around 20 to 40 percent of melanomas are thought to arise from pre-existing moles.

The research was conducted on a group of 3,594 female twins where specially trained nurses carefully examined 17 areas of the subjects’ bodies. In addition, the team also took some other factors into consideration such as skin tone, colour of the eyes, freckles and hair colour. […]

By |November 10th, 2015|Moles, Skin Cancer Risk|0 Comments
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