Skin Checks
As summer approaches let’s take this opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of sun protection. Australian summers can be severely damaging to our skin and heavy sun exposure puts a lot of us at risk of skin cancer. Our country has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, around 2,000 people dying from it each year.
An important thing to do at least once a year is to do an at home skin check on yourself. Familiarise yourself with the freckles, moles and markings on your skin. Take note of the shape and colouring of each. Then in the coming months do the same, if you notice any changes, book in for a skin check with your local GP who can assess the changes and check for any concerning spots.
Preventing skin cancer is as easy as Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide. We’ve all heard it but not all of us apply it. By putting on sunscreen, wearing sun protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses while seeking shade when you can are all simple tasks to protect you this summer. There is also an app available by The Australian Bureau of Meteorology which helps indicate the UV Index of your area to indicate how much sunscreen you should be applying, and how often. This app also features reminder notifications to re-apply to keep you on top of your applications throughout the day. By taking these simple precautions you prevent yourself from becoming a part of the two of three Australians that are diagnosed with skin cancer.
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