As summer approaches in Australia and the Victorian SunSmart media campaign kicks into gear to celebrate 30 years of SunSmart, there are many who are yet to heed the warning messages.
Yesterday, the Cancer Council Victoria announced the results of its summer survey of 1400 Victorians aged 13 to 34, polling knowledge on, and attitudes and behaviors towards, skin protection. Of those polled, 53% desired a tan, while 57% of those aged 13-17 desired a tan. (more…)
The longest, most comprehensive review of preventative healthcare measures in Australia – the ACE-prevention report – has found that a publicly funded Sunsmart campaign could save 120,000 disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in the next 20 years.
The report, published earlier this week, reviewed 123 preventative healthcare measures to evaluate their value for money and impact upon illness and premature death, based on projected spend scenarios. The DALY measure – a standard unit of how an intervention scenario compares to no treatment or intervention, measured in healthy life years lived – showed that Sunsmart had the fourth biggest potential impact upon Australian public health, behind tobacco and fast food taxes and gastric banding in individuals with a body mass index over 35 (those considered severely obese).
New research reveals that beach umbrellas may not provide the level of sun protection that, to date, many had assumed they would. According to researchers from the University of Valencia in Spain, while beach umbrellas block most of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming directly from the sun, a percentage of the scattered or reflected UV radiation still reaches beneath the shelter.
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation has been shown to have a variety of detrimental health effects on humans, including; sunburn, immune system suppression, ocular damage (cataracts), premature skin aging and the development of skin cancers. The solar UV radiation directly from the sun and its encircling light only makes up approximately 40% of the total radiation which may reach a person’s skin at ground level. The other 60% comes from the surrounding sky, it may be reflected from the surface of nearby objects, such as buildings, trees and sand, or it may be scattered by the molecules which make up the air. This reflected UV radiation is known as ‘diffuse radiation’ and is able to penetrate horizontally through unobstructed sections of the sky.
In October 2009 we discussed big changes to the global indoor tanning industry with the first nations implementing regulations and restrictions on who could use a tanning bed and for how long (see Teens and sunbed use; the regulation commences). This post foreshadowed a predicted rise in regulation around tanning beds and a number of nations have since responded to the WHO’s report.
July 1 saw the introduction of a new federal excise tax of 10% on all solarium sessions at tanning salons across the USA as a Federal Government response to the increased skin cancer risks posed by tanning booths. (more…)
With the northern Hemisphere officially creeping into summer, the first arguments of this season’s sun and skin debate have arisen
Anti cancer councils and organisations akin to Australia’s Sunsmart are continuing their awareness-raising campaigns, educating the public about the issue, and most importantly the practice of sun protective behaviour; although significant investment and persistence are required, well executed and long running campaigns can make significant progress, albeit on a regional scale. But a vocal group of skeptics are continuing to question whether a central element, sunscreen, might just be part of the problem.
It is known that ultraviolet radiation is one of the most important risk factors contributing to non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Athletes playing outdoor sports are exposed to a comparatively high amount of UV because of training and competition outdoors and thus athletes have an increased risk for cutaneous melanoma and other skin cancers.
A study has found that one in seven UK cricket players was urgently requested to see a specialist after discovering worrying moles during check-ups. For that reason the Professional Cricketer’s Association has organised screenings for all its members at dermatology specialists and already 15% of the male players were found to be in need of further investigation.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month in the US, and it’s likely that the associated awareness campaign has come not a moment too soon. A recent study confirmed that non-melanoma skin cancer has reached epidemic levels in the US, with an estimated 300 percent increase in the number of skin cancers over the past decade and a half.
A US School of Public Health study published last week revealed that African Americans are largely ignoring sun safety messages, despite research showing that African Americans were more likely to die from melanoma, compared to fair skinned Americans.
The study, of 2187 African Americans living in California aged 18-95, revealed that only about 31% of those surveyed always engaged in sun-protective behavior, while 62.7% never wear sunscreen.
In our final post on sunscreen, we will discuss the proper advice and application of sunscreen to achieve optimal protection from UV radiation.
A recently published study found that, even with detailed guidance and individual instruction, trial participants still applied less than half the amount of sunscreen recommended. Participants who were instructed only by the product packaging used slightly more than a third of the required amount. This is an important gap in public knowledge, as SPF ratings are based on tests carried out with the recommended amounts of sunscreen.
There are many factors to consider when selecting a sunscreen, and it’s important to have an understanding of what impact they each have on the effectiveness of UV protection they provide.
Broadly speaking, there are two different ways sunscreens protect against UV radiation; chemical protection and physical protection. Chemical sunscreens introduce materials into the skin that absorb UV radiation, while physical sunscreens (like zinc cream) create a physical layer of protection that reflects or blocks UV radiation.
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