Sunscreen paradox

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 As the Melb Weather Goddess has finally decided to grace us w/ more summer-like temp and weather cond (here and there 😅😭), everyone I know who is not otherwise (forcibly) tied indoors (i.e. effing exam season pour moi 💀) is rushing to beaches, parks, and outdoor dining seats. But as everyone knows, Australian nature is out to get us, from the hole in our ozone layer to our deadly animals, so now is as good a time as any to raise some sun protection awareness. 


A newly published study by Canadian researchers discovered a phenomenon they're dubbing the "sunscreen paradox", which is basically when people feel invincible after applying sunscreen so they are more inclined to engage in dangerous sun-exposure activities such as 

  • going to the beaches when the UV index is dees as being extreme  
  • not taking other sun-protective measures e.g. wearing a hat, UV outer layers
  • only applying sunscreen once and never reapplying
  • inadequate amount and/or covereage of sunscreen
  • not wearning water-resistant sunscreen
  • thinking that applying sunscreen is "permission to tan" 


Ironically, a lot of the people who love to sunbathe and engage in outdoor activities are also of the ethnic background of having the highest risk of developing melanoma. In comparison, being of Asian descent makes you one of the least likely to develop melanoma, but traditionally, many Asian cultures prizes fair skin and will avoid sunlight like the plague - going so far as having sun parasols. 


Funny personal anecdote: when I went to Scandinavia w my parents (b/c who can afford that shit as a student - thank you mum & dad for being adventurous and fun travel buddies 💕)  and tricked les parentals on a 9hr hike (in my defence the guidebook said 5hr but obviously Norwegians are of diff build and it was also a hike from one mountain to another and graded the most difficult...my short ass legs had no chance 😂😅) - we came across a group of Norwegians in nothing but bras (no jokes full on bras, not even tank tops or sport bras, just your plain-old wired bra...) and bike shorts, and not 5mins later another group of Koreans all decked out in long sleeve UV protective clothing, long pants, sun parasols and the women even had f**king silk gloves. It was bloody hilarious but just goes to show how diff the culture values were betwen these groups. 


To finish on a more serious note, nearly 200,000 Aussies were dx w/ skin cancer last year (2022) and >1,000 died. No one is immune, not the old or young, as illustrated by the new article referenced below where I got inspo to write this post, but 4 time-Olympian champion Cate Campbell was only 26yo when she was dx w melanoma but thankfully she caught it early at stage 1, got it surgically removed and the survival rate is > 98% as compared to only 20% if it was dx as a stage 4. So the good news? It's a very curable dx if caught early, so imma end this post w some practical tips of sun safety and general skin check-ups. 


Sun protection 

  • " Think UV not heat" - Cancer Council Vic 
    • What does this mean? This means that just because you don't feel like it's a scorching day, doesn't mean the UV is not high, in fact, a scorching hot day can have the same UV level as a cloudy-ass Melbourne morning. 
    • If you use iPhone, you can check the UV level on the weather app by scrolling down and it even gives recommendation for whether sun protection is recommended

  • What are the 5 steps of staying Sun Smart? - Remember the 5S

                 1. Slip on sun-protective clothing 

                 2. Slop on SPF30+ or above broad spec, water-resistant sunscreen AT MIN 20 MINS 

                     BEFORE going out and REAPPLY EVERY 2 HRS

                 3. Slap on a broad-brimmed hat that protects your head, neck and ears like Indiana Jones 

                     (is my age showing...)

                 4. Seek shade

                 5. Slide on sunnies 


Checking for skin cancer

  • Who should check? - Everyone! Even if you're of darker skin, your cancer risk is lower but not nil, and dark skin can make seeing skin lesions harder meaning skin cancer is more likely to be detected at a later stage (and hence more fatal) 

  • Whcn should I check? - Regularly! In the shower is not a bad idea!
  • What should I be looking out for? - Any NEW skin lesions, any CHANGES in old lesions- where changes = changes in shape, size, colour, and texture, and any UNSUAL-looking lesions - they are ALL worth going to your GP for a gen skin check-up for
  • Where to check? - Your ENTIRE body! - Double facing mirror or trusted individ would be helpful here

So go out and enjoy the summer safely!





Reference

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/we-re-using-more-spf-than-ever-why-are-melanoma-rates-increasing-20231101-p5egm9.html

https://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/preventing-cancer/be-sunsmart


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