Know & Protect the Skin You’re In

It’s the holidays soon and that means spending more time out and about and being exposed to the harsh African sun.

Ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) reach the earth’s surface and are damaging to skin. UVB is responsible for producing sunburn and can cause sunburn within fifteen minutes, causing permanent damage while UVA rays can contribute to ageing the skin and DNA damage. Damage from both UVA and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer.

So it’s important to know the skin you’re in and CANSA urges you to check your skin regularly for changes, unusual marks or moles. An annual medical examination should include a skin check.

• Use the ABCDE warning signs on the CANSA website for guidance in terms of suspicious moles or abnormalities
• Ask someone to check your back, top of your head and the back of your legs for spots or changes you may not notice yourself
• Consult with a dermatologist or medical professional if any suspicious moles or abnormalities are detected

Miiskin Skin App

Realising the importance of being aware of skin changes, we’ve partnered with Miiskin, a free user-friendly app for monitoring changes on your skin, although it doesn’t replace a doctor’s visit and isn’t a diagnostic tool. (Any suspicious moles or abnormalities should be checked out by a dermatologist or medical professional).

It’s another way to encourage people to be aware of skin changes and to monitor them. Extra functionalities can be accessed through a subscription that comes with a 30-day free trial and if consumers take this up, Miiskin donates 15% of subscriptions to CANSA to assist in implementing our risk reduction and support work.

Protect Your Skin

Primary protection from the sun is to use sunscreen. All sunscreens bearing the CANSA Seal of Recognition (CSOR) have broad spectrum protection abilities, meaning they protect against UVA and UVB rays. Always apply a sunscreen, with a sun protection factor (SPF) between 20 and 50 depending on skin type.

The use of sunscreen lotion is not a license to ‘bare all’ in the sun:

• Avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 3pm when the sun’s rays are most dangerous
• Stay in the shade or under an (UV protective) umbrella as much as possible (UV rays reflect off cement, water, sand, glass and grass and can therefore cause sunburn in the shade)
• It’s also important to wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of UV400 to protect the eyes.
• Other protection includes UV protective clothing as UV radiation can penetrate fabric. (Swimwear and umbrellas bearing the CANSA Seal of Recognition should be part of your protection kit. Look out for CANSA’s swing tags and Smart Choice logo on clothing, hats and summer fun accessories)
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds
• Find more SunSmart tips…

Many people are participating in outdoor and sports events where it’s vital that sunscreen is made available. We partner with Dispensit who provide event sunscreen stand dispensers offering the perfect way to make sunscreen available to all participants. CANSA receives 10% of each stand sold towards our SunSmart health awareness campaign.

Enjoy the holidays responsibly and protect the skin you’re in!