With record heat temperatures breaking across the world and summer fast approaching, many of us are increasingly concerned on how to best protect ourselves and loved ones this season. Summer in Australia is often associated with the beach, holidays, celebrations and fun. However, we too often forget the dangers that come with such long and intense summers, in particular UV radiation exposure.

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world; with two thirds of Australians being diagnosed with a skin cancer over their lifetime. For this reason, it is extremely important of us to take care of our skin during summer.

General precautions include:

– wearing SPF30 or higher sunscreen (water resistant is best, especially at the beach or pool), ensuring to apply 20 minutes prior to going outside and reapplying every 2 hours

– wearing a broad brim hat and breathable clothing that protects your skin as much as your skin as possible

– sunglasses that meet Australian Standards for UV protection

– stay in shade/under umbrella as much as possible when outdoors

– avoid sun exposure in the middle of the day as this is generally when UV levels are most dangerous

As particular note, babies under 12 months should not be exposed to direct sun when UV levels reach 3 or higher (and use of sunscreen on babies under six months old should be avoided).

Monitoring UV levels is particularly useful to assess your daily risk. A good resource can be found on: cancer.org.au/SunSmartApp.

Children are particularly vulnerable to sunburn (as little as 10 minutes of sun exposure) and heatstroke, and so extra precautions should be taken.

If your child does get sunburnt, ensure they are adequately hydrated by encouraging them to drink water. You can also use cool compresses on the skin and simple pain relief such as paracetamol can assist. Any signs of severe sunburn such as blisters, swollen skin or severe pain should be reviewed by a GP as soon as possible.

Extended duration in the sun can also cause heatstroke in child or vulnerable people in the community. Signs and symptoms include fever, headaches or nausea and vomiting. If any of these symptoms occur after time in the sun, present to your GP immediately (or your local emergency department if outside practice hours).

Having regular skin checks is also an extremely important screening tool to help detect and treat any irregular skin lesions early that may be cancerous. Talk to your local GP for more information to assess your individual risk of skin cancer and form a personalised plan to protect yourself and your family this summer.

References:

Kids Health Information : Safety: Sun protection (rch.org.au)

National Skin Cancer Action Week | Combatting Australia’s ‘national cancer’ | Cancer Council

For years in my youth, I sunbaked and now I’m paying the price. I’m 70 and the spots vary in size and in colour from beige to grey to dark brown! It looks awful. Surely there is a solution? There are various cosmetic techniques to remove pigmentation from sun-damaged skin. Options include topical peels, laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), dermabrasion and bleaching creams. A regular skin check for early signs of skin cancer will be essential for you too. One of our GPs can assess you and a cosmetic dermatologist can advise you on the best approach for your skin type. Is there a way of treating keratosis pilaris? It’s a common genetic condition where there are rough follicular spots, which may be skin-coloured, red or brown. It is usually on the upper arms, but can be on your back, thighs, cheeks and forearms. Use a non-soap cleanser and rub the affected area gently with a pumice stone or exfoliating sponge in the shower or bath. Then moisturise regularly. Topical retinoid creams may help. I get terrible reactions to mosquito bites. The other day, my hand blew up and my wrist looked like a pie. I take an antihistamine, which does help with the swelling, but is there anything else I can do? Some people do react to mosquito bites worse than others. The main strategy is to avoid being bitten, so make sure there are insect screens on your doors and windows, and wear long sleeves and pants when mosquitos are about. Eliminate standing water around your home. You can apply a mild hydrocortisone cream to the sting and take an antihistamine to calm down stronger allergic reactions. How do I know if a painful rash on my side is shingles? Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is characterised by clusters of painful tiny blisters along the distribution of a nerve. It is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus. Pain can persist once the rash subsides. Definitive diagnosis is by a swab testing for virus in the fluid sampled from a blister. Get to your GP within 72 hours of the rash occurring to start treatment with anti-viral medication. Ask about a vaccine available for older adults. I have white spots on my chest. Are these sun spots? Should I be worried? White spots could be anything from vitiligo to pityriasis alba. It could also be fungal, dermatitis or sun-related. Obviously, it’s best for your GP to look at it. I’m 33 and have a pimple on my face that won’t go away. It’s been there for a few weeks now. Is it likely to be skin cancer? It might be a pimple or a sebaceous cyst. If you are concerned about a lump or a mole that has changed, or a sore that doesn’t heal, you need to see your GP to have it assessed and also have a general skin check. I don’t sunbake and I protect myself from casual sun exposure, but I do have sunspots. Do I still need to get them checked regularly for skin cancer? Check your own skin or have a friend do it every three months. Don’t forget tricky areas such as underarms, hands and feet, ears and scalp. An annual skin check with your GP is an important preventative measure. If any sunspots grow, change colour, or itch or bleed, see your doctor urgently. Skin cancer risk rises if you have fair skin, a history of sunburn, abnormal or irregular moles, a family history of skin cancer, weak immunity, or you are ageing. Your sun exposure in childhood has a delayed effect in later years. I’ve read that having wrinkles on your face is a sign of thin bones. Is this true and, if so, what should I do about it? Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine tested this theory on women within three years of menopause. They found that the firmer the skin on the face and forehead, the greater the bone density, and more wrinkles meant lower bone density. At this stage, it is just an observation, so bone density testing is still the best way to assess the risk of fracture from osteoporosis.