Slip, slop, slap and wrap

Protect yourself from the sun in these five ways to protect yourself from skin cancer.

Slip

Slip into a shirt and clothing that offer good protection from the sun eg, collared, long-sleeve shirts, lightweight trousers, or longer shorts. Some fabrics have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating that shows how effective the fabric is at blocking out ultraviolet (UV) radiation but clothing need not be specialised to be SunSmart. Generally, fabrics with a tighter weave and darker colours offer greater protection from the sun.

And, slip into some shade, especially between 11am and 4pm when the sun’s rays are most fierce.

Slop

Slop on some sunscreen before going outdoors.

Don’t rely on sunscreen as your only form of sun protection – physical barriers like long-sleeve shirts and hats provide better protection.

Sunscreen should not be used as a way to stay out in the sun longer. Instead, use it as a way to reduce the risk of damage to the skin when exposure to the summer sun is unavoidable.

Put sunscreen on any skin not covered by clothes. Choose a sunscreen that meets the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS26040 (check the back of the bottle to see if it meets the standard).

Use an SPF30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen. Wipe it on thickly at least 20 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after physical activity, swimming or towel drying.

Keep an eye on the expiry date of your sunscreen – throw it away if it’s past the expiry date.

Keep sunscreen in handy places where people are most likely to be reminded or need to use sunscreen eg, by the door at home or work, or in your swim bag, sports bag or handbag.

Slap

Slap on a hat with a brim or a cap with flaps. More people get sunburnt on the face and neck than any other part of the body, so a good hat is important. Look out for hats with a brim of 6cm to 7.5cm or more.

Wrap

Wrap on a pair of sunglasses. Choose close fitting, wrap-around glasses  to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around them. Choose sunglasses that meet the joint Australia and New Zealand Standard AS/NZ1067 (check the label or swing tag to see if they meet the standard). Don’t forget to wear a hat too.

For more information on being safe in the sun have a look at the SunSmart Fact Pack (PDF, 1.7MB)