NZ a special case when it comes to being SunSmart

Why NZ is a special case when it comes to being SunSmart

Our summer may have gotten off to a spluttery start, but as we head into January, long hot days will become more of a certainty. The automatic response of many New Zealanders will be to take off most of their clothes and head outside to work on the tan. Wayde Beckman from SunSmart explains why New Zealanders have more reason than most to make sure they enjoy the summer sun safely.

The dangers of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are well documented, but do we Kiwis take those dangers seriously enough? Wearing not much and migrating en masse to the beach, pool or favourite picnic spot to lap up the summer sun is a risky activity anywhere in the world. But in New Zealand the consequences can be particularly serious.

Around 300 Kiwis die from skin cancer every year. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and melanoma rates in New Zealand are worryingly high – four times that of Canada, the US and the UK.

New Zealanders are more susceptible to skin cancer for several reasons. We have higher UVR levels than countries in the Northern Hemisphere because in the Southern Hemisphere summer, UV rays have a shorter distance to travel to earth than they do in the Northern Hemisphere summer.

Atmospheric protection over New Zealand also starts to decline in early summer as the ozone hole breaks up and drifts our way, letting through UVR. And our unpolluted skies give the rays a clear passage through to Earth. These factors, combined with a mostly fair skinned population, mean Kiwis have to be extremely vigilant to keep the risks of skin cancer at bay.

Add into the mix our history of questionable tanning activities. Those a little longer in the tooth may recall drawn-out summer days frying in the sun with baby oil, while using tinfoil to intensify the sun’s rays. ‘Going for the burn’ was Jane Fonda’s catch phrase back then, but it was also highly prized amongst teenage backyard sunbathers. Now we know that it is this very sunburn received as children and adolescents that has increased our risk of melanoma as adults.

We can’t turn the clock back, but we can start to protect our skins now.

And it’s not too late for our children. By making an effort to protect them from sunburn, we can greatly reduce their risk of developing melanoma in later life.

Everyone knows the drill – between the months of September to March, especially within the hours of 11am to 4pm when UV radiation is most fierce, slip into protective clothing like shirts with collars and longer sleeves; slap on a broad-brimmed hat or cap with flaps; slop on a broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen; wrap on a pair of close fitting sunglasses that reduce at least 90 percent of the sun’s UV radiation. And in the middle of the day, try and slip into some shade.

The vast majority of skin cancer deaths are preventable if we are SunSmart. We can enjoy New Zealand’s natural beauty during summertime, and stay safe from sunburn.

ENDS

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