Skin Care Blog Summer Edition

Summer is a great time of year with lots of time with family and friends out and about in the holidays.

Summer in Australia is one of the harshest seasons, with weather ranging from quite mild to extreme heat. Even on a cloudy day our skin can be affected by the UV rays causing damage, and this damage may not be seen until later in life. 

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with roughly 2 in 3 Australians diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before they reach 70 years of age. 

Anyone can develop skin cancer, but some people have a higher risk. Increased rates of skin cancers occur in those who: 

• Hair fair or freckled skin, with a tendency to burn rather than tan 
• Fair or red hair, with blue or green eyes 
• Had short, intense periods of sun exposure (eg. A sunburn while on holidays or playing sport) 
• Actively tanned or used solariums 
• Worked outdoors or with exposure to arsenic 
• Have a weaked immune system (from a chronic condition, or through medication use) 
• Have lots of moles on their body, particularly those with irregular shape or uneven colour 
• Have a previous or family history of skin cancer 
• Have skin conditions such as sunspots 
  

If you are due for a skin check or wish to discuss any skin concerns with the Growlife Medical Team, book now. To read more about skin cancers click here 

Other things we can do to protect ourselves in the summer months include – 

• SLIP on covering clothing (eg. long-sleeved shirts and rash vests at the beach) 
• SLOP on sunscreen with at least SPF30 (SPF50 is even better!). Remember to apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outside, and apply DAILY to all skin that is not covered by clothing. Even driving we can experience sun damage on our hands, arms and face. 
• SLAP on a hat   
• SEEK shade – ideally avoiding being out when the UV index > 3 which typically occurs between 10am-4pm but differs according to time and place. To check in your location, the Cancer Council has a free app, which you can download here. 
• SLIDE on some sunglasses to reduce UV radiation causing damage to our eyes 
  

More points to consider: 

There are other reasons to look after our skin.  Skin is the largest organ in our body and does a great job at regulating our temperature and ensuring we remain hydrated. We need to keep ourselves hydrated by drinking at least 2L of water daily, and limit our intake of caffeinated drinks.

Those with dry skin conditions still need to apply moisturisers, but may prefer lighter options such as lotions, over heavy creams. 

Over summer it is important to reduce the frequency of skin treatments such at retinoids/laser/skin peels, as these treatments make our skin more susceptible to damage from the sun. Always ensure if you use these products to wear sunscreen and do not get direct sun on the areas where products/treatments are used. Otherwise, you can create more damage to the skin you are likely aiming to improve. 

REMEMBER: Preventing skin damage is far better than treating damage in the future. 

Should you be unsure of the cause or your skin condition becomes worse, please see your dermatologist or book a Growlife Medical GP appointment.

Reference

Cancer Council Queensland 

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