About Your Skin

Your skin is your body's largest organ and it protects your body from the outside, including sunlight, heat, injury and infection. It also helps regulate your body's temperature, stores fat and water, and produces Vitamin D.

Your skin is made up of two layers. The innermost layer is called the dermis and the outermost layer the epidermis.

The dermis contains the blood and lymph vessels, hair follicles and glands.

The epidermis is made up of flat, scale-like cells called squamous cells. Basal cells are the round cells that lie under the squamous cells in the epidermis. Melanocytes are found in the lower part of the epidermis and are the cells that produce melanin. Melanin is what gives your skin its natural colour – the colour you were born with. It's the distribution of melanin in the skin which results in different skin types, giving us either lighter or darker skin tones or skin with freckles or moles.

Personal traits such as how much melanin is produced and how it is distributed in response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) influences whether we're likely to develop a skin cancer or melanoma. Our environment and behaviour also play a large role.

Reduce Your Risk

Even though we live in the melanoma capital of the world, the good news is there are simple ways to reduce your risk of skin cancer by protecting your skin from damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and checking your body regularly for changes in moles.

Find out what your skin type is and what you can do to better protect it while still enjoying the outdoors.

Get To Know Your Skin Type

Everyone's skin is different and reacts differently to sun exposure.
By knowing how sensitive you are to burn, you will be able to take better precautions to protect your skin.

Tool: Match your skin to the colour that best resembles your own.

Skin type	Skin reaction to the sun
	Always burns easily, never tans, extremely sun sensitive
	Always burns easily, tans minimally, very sun sensitive
	Sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, minimally sun sensitive
	Burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun sensitive
	Rarely burns, tans well, skin not sensitive to sun
	Never burns, deeply pigmented, skin not sensitive to sun

If you have a skin type of I or II, you are at the highest risk of damage from UVR exposure.

People with skin type I have the lightest skin and may not get even a mild tan after repeated UV exposure. Instead, the skin suffers sunburn reactions. It is important to note that while you may have a skin type II or higher (where you seem to tan more easily), skin damage still occurs and too much exposure to UVR can still lead to skin cancer or melanoma.

FACT: Because Australia is relatively close to the equator, we receive higher levels of UVR. Be prepared and protect your skin in five ways.

Reduce Your Risk

Now that you know your skin type, make sure you are aware of the UV Index for the day. The UV Index is a measure of the maximum daily level of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). This handy information will help you plan your daily sun protection needs.

Source: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Protect Your Skin

You may think you've heard it all before but consider how well you protect your skin when you go to the local shop, drive to work, walk the dog or when you're at the beach … are you really protecting your skin?

The best way to protect your skin is to seek shade when UVR is at its peak and if you're heading outdoors to wear protective clothing, a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses.

SPF30+ or higher broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen should be applied to the areas that are not protected from the sun with clothing. If used correctly, sunscreen can prevent sunburn. However, sunscreen is not intended to be used to extend the amount of time you spend in the sun, such as tanning.

1. Shade

The strength of UV radiation is highest in the four-hour period around noon: 10am to 3pm. The best thing you can do for your skin is to avoid the sun during this period and seek shade. Plan your day.

2. Protective Clothing

Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible, especially your shoulders, arms and legs. The best forms of protective clothing are loose fitting, closely woven fabrics that cast a dense shadow when held up to the light.

3. Broad Brimmed Hat

A hat with a brim of at least 7cm is a great way to protect not only the top of your head but also your neck, ears and face. These are parts of the body where skin cancer often occurs.

4. Sunglasses

The most effective way to protect your eyes is to wear sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard AS 1067 and wrap around the sides of the face. This way UVR doesn't reach your eyes.

5. Sunscreen

Used properly, sunscreens are effective in preventing sunburn. This means generously applying SPF30+ broad spectrum sunscreen to your skin, 20 minutes before you head outdoors. Remember to re-apply every two hours.

Did You Know?

In a recent Cancer Institute NSW survey…
- One-fifth believed that sun protection is only required at the beach or pool.

- Only one-fifth always stayed out of the sun between 11am and 3pm

- Only 11% always reapplied sunscreen every two hours.

Early Detection: Check Your Skin

Check your skin and moles at least every three months. The ABCDE rule is a useful guide of what to look for.

Asymmetry - Moles that, if divided in half are not the same on both sides.

Border - Moles with edges that are jagged like a coastline.

Colour - Moles gaining or losing colour, or multicoloured.

Diameter - Moles more than 1/2 cm in diameter (especially if uneven colour).

Evolution - Moles that have changed size, shape, colour or risen.

If you spot any of them, see your doctor straight away.

The Truth Behind Tanning

If you think tanning gives you a healthy glow, think again. Here's a reminder of some hard-hitting facts.

• Tanning is skin cells in trauma, trying to protect themselves from cancer.

• One damaged skin cell can start a melanoma growing.

• A melanoma need only be 1mm deep to spread to other parts of the body.

They're just a few good reasons to understand your skin type and risk of melanoma so you can improve your sun protection.

The Myths

Myth 1: "When a melanoma is cut out, it's gone"

One reason melanoma is the most lethal of all skin cancers is because it need only be 1mm deep for cancer cells to burrow into your blood stream or lymphatic system and spread. Once they're circulating around your body they can reappear months or years later – often in your lungs, liver and brain.

It's important to get melanomas surgically removed early, but preventing a melanoma from occurring in the first place is even more important.

Myth 2: "Sunscreen's all I need"

The use of sunscreen is just one of the five skin protection measures you should use every day. Look on it as an extra form of protection, not your primary sun protection measure and certainly not your only one:
• Stay in the shade and avoid the sun during peak UV times

• Wear protective clothing, a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses

When you use sunscreen, make sure you:

• Use a SPF30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen on all areas of exposed skin

• Apply at least 20minutes before going outdoors

• Apply generously (thickly) and don't miss areas such as behind the ears and knees

• Reapply at least every 2 hours, and after swimming. Sunscreen can be wiped off by clothing, water, sand and rubbing

• Use water resistant sunscreen if you participate in water sports or sweat often.

Ensure the sunscreen complies with the current Australian and New Zealand Standard for Sunscreens (AS/NZS2604:1998)

Myth 3: "Solariums are safer"

Using a solarium, sunbed or tanning bed to tan is not any safer than sun tanning. In fact, using a solarium can increase your risk of a melanoma because sunbeds also emit UVA and UVB radiation from above and below your body.

The Australian Standard for Solaria for Cosmetic Purposes restricts solarium operators from advertising their product as being safe, a safer alternative or healthy. In Australia, people under the age of 15 are not allowed access to solariums and people between the ages of 15 and 18 require parental written consent.

If you choose to use a solarium, know the facts. Solarium operators must provide you with correct information about the risks and ask you to sign a consent form before use. If you are unclear about the risks, or feel uncomfortable with what the operator tells you, it is strongly recommended that you choose not to use the solarium.

Myth 4: "I'm healthier with a tan"

In a recent Cancer Institute NSW survey, 34% agreed that they feel healthier with a tan.

You may think you feel or look healthier with a tan but once you understand what is happening to your skin, you'll think again.
Tanning is skin cells in trauma. In response to UV damage, skin cells produce melanin to protect themselves. However, one damaged cell can start a deadly melanoma growing.

Too much UV exposure can result in structural damage to your skin – in the short term, burning or scarring and in the long term premature ageing or skin cancer.

There's nothing healthy about a tan.

Myth 5: "I need lots of sun to get Vitamin D"

We all need Vitamin D for good health and the main source for Australians is the sun. However, the vast majority of us will get all the Vitamin D we need, not by tanning but just going about our normal daily activities while still protecting our skin in the five ways below.

1. Seek shade – avoid sun exposure during the middle of the day (10am-3pm)
2. Wear protective clothing that covers your skin, including your arms and legs
3. Wear a broad-brimmed hat
4. Wear sunglasses
5. Apply SPF 30+ broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours

If you do think you are Vitamin D deficient, it is best to speak to your doctor.

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