Be sun safe even when it’s overcast to protect from harmful UV rays

DESPITE huge downpours and steel-grey skies, NSW has still been copping a dangerous amount of UV rays in the past seven days, with the Cancer Institute NSW urging people to continue to wear sunscreen and hats.

MUST Australian Open of Surfing annoucement

YOU may have needed a rowboat to get home in the past week, but the Cancer Institute NSW is still urging people to be wearing a hat while they row.

Despite huge downpours and steel-grey skies, NSW has still been copping a dangerous amount of UV rays in the past seven days.

The institute’s prevention of cancer manager, Anita Dessaix, said that last Tuesday, when 34mm of rain fell on Sydney, the UV index was dangerously high.

“It’s a really good example of how looks can be deceiving,” Ms Dessaix said.

“You’ve got an overcast day but you can see on the UV index that you’ve got a higher risk period where the UV index is three or above. That is when you need to be thinking about sun protection.”

Ms Dessaix said the UV index on an overcast/rainy day can climb above three.

The difference is that the danger period on a cloudy day will be between 10am and 2pm, as opposed to a 9am to 4pm stint on a hot and sunny summer’s day.

“It is important to remember Australia is the melanoma capital of the world. We have the highest rates,” she said.

About 13,000 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in Australia in 2015. In 2010, 488 people died from melanoma, with three in four of those deaths being men.

Junior surfing sisters Bodhi and Cedar Leigh-Jones live in the sun and so don’t compromise on sun protection against UV rays.

“I always have some level of protection, like sunscreen, when I go out,” 14-year-old Bodhi, from Avalon, said.

“I’ve been badly burned a few times during competitions, which is a consequence of not reapplying.

“You always have to be so careful.”

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