Protect your skin from cancer
SOUTH Africa is among the countries with the highest UV (ultraviolet) levels in the world and the highest skin cancer rates globally.
The festive season and summer are upon us, and it’s important for people who are going on holiday to be aware of the dangers of too much sun exposure and the prevalence of skin cancer.
“We’re not the only country that has high UV rays, but we are close to the equator.
“Anything in the Southern hemisphere will get strong UV rays,” spokesperson for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) Lucy Balona said.
The SunSmart campaign, an initiative of Cansa, is an annual awareness event that operates throughout December and January to raise awareness about the killer disease.
People with fair skin, especially those with red hair, moles or skin spots, and those with a personal or family history of skin cancer, who play a lot of outdoor sports, those who work outside or spend a lot of time driving, are considered at high risk of developing skin cancer.
It’s a myth that people with darker skin are not at risk of getting skin cancer, Balona said.
“What we tell people is that sunscreen is important and that they must wear sunscreen according to their skin types. Dark skinned people will wear sunscreen with a lower SPF.”
Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer and calls for people to pay particular attention to new or changing moles. It can affect all racial and ethnic groups.
It’s more common in people with fair skin who tend to burn rather than tan when exposed to the sun, even for a very short time.
People with darker skin are less susceptible because their skin contains more natural melanin that helps to protect against sun damage.
Skin cancer is generally divided into two categories: melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is by far the most dangerous form of skin cancer and can be deadly.
Common sign are dark or pink moles or patches of skin which are irregular in shape and can bleed.
South Africa has one of the highest incidences of melanoma worldwide, with about 1 500 people diagnosed annually with this form of skin cancer.
“We should all thoroughly check our skin on a monthly basis and assess any changes in moles, or check if any new moles might have appeared. The worldwide incidence of melanoma is on the increase,” Balona said.
Tips to help protect skin from the harmful effects of UV rays include avoiding direct sunlight between 10am and 3pm, and wearing thicklywoven hats with wide brims and loose-fitting clothes made of tightlywoven fabric that is cool while blocking the harmful UV rays.
Applying sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of between 30 and 50 and reapplying it often, as well as avoiding the use of sunlamps and tanning beds, is strongly recommended.
If found early, most skin cancers can be cured. At least 80% of suninduced skin damage occurs before the age of 18 and only manifests later in life. It is therefore important to take special care of children in the sun, not only now in the summer holidays, but every day of the year.