With good care, we can still enjoy the Australian summer and protect our skin. The National Skin Cancer Campaign works to help all Australians, but particularly vulnerable teenagers, understand how to protect their skin. http://www.skindermatology.com.au

1. Living with Australia‟s Hostile Summer Friend
Did you know that two out of every three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before
the age of seventy? That means that you are more likely than not to need some form of treatment
for skin cancers. Even more seriously, while some of those skin cancers will be easily removed
and you‟ll hardly have a scar in a short time, others will be more serious, and some can kill you.
Getting the Message
Since 1981, Australians have been reminded to “Slip, Slop, Slap”. That‟s more than a generation
of people who have grown up with the knowledge that our skins are fragile and can be
irretrievably damaged by the Australian brisbane skin cancer sun.
The good news is that we‟ve heard the message, and have, to some extent at least, changed our
ways. The incidence of two of the most common skin cancers has decreased. But the bad news is
that the deadly melanoma is actually increasing.
The Deadly One
Melanoma has sometimes been called Australia‟s „national cancer‟. One in every nineteen
Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma before the age of 85: the highest incidence in the
world. Approximately 392 new cases are diagnosed every year, and it kills more young
Australians than any other cancer. This isn‟t an enemy to play with.
Early identification is critical to the successful treatment of melanoma. But it‟s an even better
idea to do everything to prevent this, and any other form of sun cancer.
Prevention is Better than Cure
The National Skin Cancer Campaign was built on the old saying that „an ounce of prevention is
better than a pound of cure‟. Australians have been encouraged to understand the power of the
sun, and have a healthy respect for the damage it can do. Any skin exposed to the sun can be
damaged.
We‟re encouraged to cover up, not just with a good sunscreen, but also with a broad-brimmed
hat, adequate clothing and appropriate sunglasses. During the hottest part of the day (11am to
3pm) it‟s better to stay under cover. The sun‟s rays don‟t only damage us when we receive them
direct from the sun: reflective surfaces like water, sand and concrete can also expose you to
damaging rays. So you need to take care of sensitive areas such as the skin under your chin.
Eternal Vigilance
Did you know that as many as a quarter of young Australians between the ages of 14 and 17 are
still getting sunburnt each weekend during summer? This is an age when young people think
they are indestructible, when bad things only happen to other people.
The reality is that bad skin cancers such as melanoma happen to very young people, who are
either scarred for life, or who die tragically young. Adjusting behaviour to prevent dangerous

2. exposure to the sun is the most important thing anyone can do. Next to that is the need to have
regular checks, and to take seriously any change in moles or spots anywhere on the body.
A Word About Beauty
While a „healthy tan‟ might appear attractive, there‟s nothing attractive about the early wrinkles
and spots of a sun-damaged skin. Protecting our skin from sun damage will make it more likely
we will have a youthful appearance as we age. For all you need to know to protect your skin this
summer, click here.
Australia is a wonderful place to live, and the sun is an important part of our joy in this great
country. If we treat it with the respect it deserves, and protect ourselves from its harmful rays, we
can enjoy the best of the sun without suffering its punishment.
http://www.skindermatology.com.au