Is your skin ready for summer?
Did you know Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world? In fact, around half a million skin cancers are treated every year nationwide.
The sun’s UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer. We require sun protection when UV levels reach 3 or above, which is generally all year round in Queensland, even on cool or cloudy days.
At this level, just 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure is enough to cause cell damage which leads to skin ageing, pigmentation and skin cancer.
“It just takes small amounts of sun – being outside for a few minutes, driving your car, hanging out washing,” says Dr Zarli Kyaw at the Berwick and Officer Skin Cancer Centres.
Dr Kyaw says it is ideal to get a skin cancer check before the start of summer.
“It is often easier for us to find suspicious lesions without the disguise of your summer tan.”
He says annual skin checks are important for early detection and can produce potentially life-saving results, especially for people at high risk, which includes those aged over 55, people with light hair or a fair complexion, those with a family or personal skin cancer history, people who work outdoors, and anyone who has been severely sunburnt or used a tanning bed.
For these people, experts recommend total body photography to detect skin cancer at its earliest stage.
“With something as life-threatening as skin cancer, the earlier we detect it, the higher the chances of successful treatment,” says Dr Kyaw.
Get your comprehensive skin cancer check before summer at Berwick Skin Cancer Centre (call 9769 3358) or Officer Skin Cancer Centre (call 5940 5006), or visit skincancercentres.com.au/vic
