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N2K Newsletter


Developing Sun Safety Habits

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It’s important for everyone to think about developing sun safety habits and it’s never too late to do so. Whatever your age, there’s still a risk of developing skin cancer if your skin is frequently exposed to UV radiation or you get sunburnt a lot. 
Sometimes adults may be a bit blasé about sun safety. Their views may stem from previous ignorance about the dangers of sunbathing, or a time when less was known about the effects of UV radiation. 
But even if you’ve been lucky enough not to be affected by skin cancer in your life so far, this doesn’t mean you’ll never get it. In fact, UV radiation exposure builds up over time and a number of forms of skin cancer are more prevalent in middle-aged and older people, so really everyone should be taking note and taking action to stay safe in the sun. 
Sun safety habits are really not a hassle to remember or implement. If you can reduce the risk of developing a potentially deadly disease by simply putting some sunscreen on your skin, moving into the shade at the hottest times of the day, wearing a sun hat or covering up exposed areas of your skin, then surely it’s worth the effort?
Teaching sun safety to kids
It’s important for everyone to learn about sun safety habits and that includes children, especially as about 80% of our sun exposure is gained by the time we’re 21 years old. Although it’s rare for young children to get skin cancer, for teens aged 15 and over, melanoma is the most common cancer for their age group. 
Children’s skin is more delicate than adults’ and it’s even more prone to sun damage. This damage is stored up and can develop into skin cancer at a later stage, but by reducing the amount of sun exposure and sunburn, this risk can be significantly reduced. 
This doesn’t mean children can’t spend time outside – just that it’s better to do so while taking a few extra precautions. If children are used to sun safety habits, then hopefully they’ll continue practising them long into the future.
The key sun safety tips
The key sun safety tips to pass on to children are:
Stay out of the sun when it’s at its hottest, from about 11am until 3pm. If you have to be outside during those times, then stay in the shade. 
Wear sunscreen to protect your skin and to get into the habit of putting it on before you go out.
Clothing is a good way of covering up and protecting your skin. 
Wear a hat to protect your head, and sunglasses to protect the eyes. 
Reapply sunscreen if you’ve been in water. 
Sunscreen and hats aren’t just something to think about at home, they’re also important at school too.

It’s important for everyone to think about developing sun safety habits and it’s never too late to do so. Whatever your age, there’s still a risk of developing skin cancer if your skin is frequently exposed to UV radiation or you get sunburnt a lot.

developing-sun-safety-habits.jpg

Sometimes adults may be a bit blasé about sun safety. Their views may stem from previous ignorance about the dangers of sunbathing, or a time when less was known about the effects of UV radiation.

But even if you’ve been lucky enough not to be affected by skin cancer in your life so far, this doesn’t mean you’ll never get it. In fact, UV radiation exposure builds up over time and a number of forms of skin cancer are more prevalent in middle-aged and older people, so really everyone should be taking note and taking action to stay safe in the sun. 

Sun safety habits are really not a hassle to remember or implement. If you can reduce the risk of developing a potentially deadly disease by simply putting some sunscreen on your skin, moving into the shade at the hottest times of the day, wearing a sun hat or covering up exposed areas of your skin, then surely it’s worth the effort?

Teaching sun safety to kids

It’s important for everyone to learn about sun safety habits and that includes children, especially as about 80% of our sun exposure is gained by the time we’re 21 years old. Although it’s rare for young children to get skin cancer, for teens aged 15 and over, melanoma is the most common cancer for their age group. 

Children’s skin is more delicate than adults’ and it’s even more prone to sun damage. This damage is stored up and can develop into skin cancer at a later stage, but by reducing the amount of sun exposure and sunburn, this risk can be significantly reduced. This doesn’t mean children can’t spend time outside – just that it’s better to do so while taking a few extra precautions. If children are used to sun safety habits, then hopefully they’ll continue practising them long into the future.

The key sun safety tips

The key sun safety tips to pass on to children are:

  • Stay out of the sun when it’s at its hottest, from about 11am until 3pm. If you have to be outside during those times, then stay in the shade. 
  • Wear sunscreen to protect your skin and to get into the habit of putting it on before you go out.
  • Clothing is a good way of covering up and protecting your skin. 
  • Wear a hat to protect your head, and sunglasses to protect the eyes. 
  • Reapply sunscreen if you’ve been in water. 
  • Sunscreen and hats aren’t just something to think about at home, they’re also important at school too.
Extract taken from Skin Cancer and Sun Safety - The Essential Guide. For more information on developing sun safety habits, take a look at the book - available now.