CosBeauty Magazine #94

PROTECT
YOURSELF
WITH SUMMER FAST APPROACHING, MANY OF
US ARE DRAWN TO ENJOYING THE SUN’S RAYS
– EVEN LYING IN THE SUN – BUT BE WARNED.
According to Cancer Council
Australia, around two in three
Australians will be diagnosed
with some form of skin cancer before
the age of 70.
One of the best ways to protect
yourself against the sun’s harmful rays
is by using a sunscreen. But one of
the most confusing terms is SPF. What
does this actually mean?
Sunscreens are merely filters, and all
of them will let some ultraviolet (UV)
radiation through at varying rates –
indicated by the Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) rating. The level of SPF given to
each sunscreen is measured using
a complex equation, and refers to the
amount of UV radiation required to
cause sunburn with the sunscreen on,
as a multiple of the amount required
without the sunscreen.
The protection given by a sunscreen
will also vary depending on:
• The amount applied
• The frequency of application
• The skin type of the user
• Immersion in water through
swimming
• The extent a person sweats
• Amount of sunscreen absorbed
by the skin.
The use of sunscreen is an important
preventative measure to help reduce
your risk of developing skin cancer
and premature skin ageing.
Skin is highly susceptible to attack
by the sun, resulting in the destruction
of collagen and elastin structure,
and, more seriously, the damage to
cells’ DNA which can lead to possible
cancer formation.
So no matter what level of
protection you choose, the best
advice is to apply your sunscreen
liberally throughout the day. CBM
SPF 50+
Despite having the highest
rates of melanoma in the
world, Australians have
been slow to adopt the
heightened protection offered
by SPF 50+ sunscreen.
According to the Cancer
Council, skin cancers account for
around 80 percent of all newly
diagnosed cancers in Australia
each year. So why has it taken
so long to introduce these
higher levels of protection to
our shores?
The concern has always been
that people will think that using
a sunscreen labelled SPF 50
means they can use less of it or
won’t have to apply it as often.
And while an increase from 30
to 50 sounds like a lot, in reality
the extra protection offered by
SPF 50 isn’t nearly as significant.
Add to this the fact the average
person puts on between 25 and
50 percent less sunscreen than
recommended, and you can see
why the authorities may have
urged caution over introducing
what merely appears to be a
significantly more effective level
of protection.
www.cosbeauty.com.au 93