If you’re asking that question, it’s probably already too late, I hate to tell ya. Temperature are soaring, droughts and heatwaves increasing, and we’ve got bushfires out the wazoo (thanks, climate change). The news only gets worse – the UV Index is on the up, too.
With 15,000 Aussies to be diagnosed with melanoma this year, you need your annual sun safety PSA now more than ever. The ol’ ‘slip slop slap’ method you learned as a kid is a great start for sure, but peak protection isn’t quite that simple. Welcome to the advanced course, where SPF50+ sunscreen is just the beginning.
Sunscreen expiry dates are NOT ‘best befores’. Dates on chewing gum and tins of beans are little more than a marketing tactic, but this isn’t the case with sunscreen, and a fair shake of the sauce bottle is not a solution. After the deadline, the lotion loses effectiveness, and it’s not a risk you want to take.
Purchase wisely, because not all sunscreens are made equal. Aussie requirements for sunscreen manufacturers are among the highest in the world, in part because we classify it as a medicine not a cosmetic. However, that doesn’t always prevent lemons from falling through the cracks. Of the six SPF 50+ sunscreens tested by consumer advocacy group CHOICE in 2015, just two lived up to their claims. Thankfully, CHOICE have a guide to help you be an informer buyer (and user).
Even your sunnies may not be as safe as you think. When they’re up to standard, they’ll protect you from up to 95% of UV radiation. But swinging by the dollar shop on the way to the beach might not do you much good – the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found that up to one in seven products were non-compliant. Only sunnies rated ‘category 2’ or higher are sun safe, so check the label before you buy!
Check the UV index, because it’s not clear skies or high temperatures that determine how fast you’ll burn. Hate to break it to you, but neither wind, winter, nor cloud cover are adequate methods of sun protection. *Coach Carr voice* You will get pregnant sunburned and die! If you’re going to be exposed to sunlight for any significant amount of time, hop onto the Bureau of Metereology – anything above a 3 on the index means sunscreen on, stat.
Get your car windows tinted. It might sound like an extreme measure, but non-tinted tempered glass (i.e. the stuff the side windows are made of) can let up to 79% of UVA radiation through. A lot of new vehicles already have it covered, but if your car isn’t one of them, can you really say no to a few hundred dollars that might save your life in the long run?
There’s just no such thing as too much sun protection. Lean into the extra layers this summer – you never know when might be setting a new fashion trend.
