Blasé Victorians run skin cancer gauntlet by ignoring slip, slop, slap

HUNDREDS of red-faced Victorians are getting so badly sunburnt they end up in hospital emergency departments each year, risking their lives and their long-term health.

HUNDREDS of red-faced Victorians are getting so badly sunburnt they end up in hospital emergency departments each year, risking their lives and their long-term health.

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As Australians prepare for hours outside on the long weekend, the Cancer Council warns January is the peak month for fried Victorians to land themselves in hospital, following a record year of serious sunburn-related injuries.

On average, one person a day was treated for sunburn in the state’s hospital emergency departments last year.

However, 190 of those cases came in January alone.

web Sunburn graphic 650 900

With hospital data revealing rising numbers of extreme sunburn cases — climbing from 133 in 2004-05 to 355 last year — SunSmart manager Heather Walker urged people to protect themselves.

While blistering may be painful in the short term, Ms Walker said the true horror may not be apparent for years.

“Every sunburn increases your risk of melanoma,” she said.

“The majority of these cases we are seeing in emergency ­departments are 10 to 19 or 20 to 29-year-olds.

“It is that age group where people feel invincible, when cancer just isn’t something on your radar, and you don’t want to end up with a situation where, years down the line, you realise you could have done something about it.”

All sunburn is a sign of UV damage to the skin, and Ms Walker said over time even mild cases added up and inc­reased the risk of skin cancer.

Sunburnt Victorians are reporting to hospital emergency departments in record numbers.

According to the Cancer Council’s National Sun Protection Survey, 671,000 Victorian adults were sunburnt on weekends alone during the 2016-17 summer, with many unaware that just 11 minutes unprotected in the summer sun could be enough to burn.

But many people expo­sed their unprotected skin to much higher UV doses.

Figures from the Victorian hospital emergency data set show almost 3000 people have ended up in the state’s emergency departments with sunburn since 2004-05.

While the exact reasons for the increase in extreme sunburn case was not known, Ms Walker said there were wider concerns that people were starting to over-rely on sunscreen as their only protection, ditching the safer clothing, hats and shade.

Melburnians are relying on sunscreen rather than covering up.

For those who suffer blistering, pain, widespread sunburn, headaches, nausea, vomiting, fever or dizziness after sun exposure, Victorian Melanoma Service dermatologist Dr Victoria Mar recommended immediate med­ical attention.

“For mild sunburn, stay out of the sun while your skin heals and stay hydrated, apply cool compresses and talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on soothing the burn,” she said.

“Remember, nothing will cure your sunburn symptoms except for time and patience.

“The best thing to do is to prevent it in the first place — by the time you feel a ‘sting in the sun’, that’s not heat from the sun, it’s your skin burning.”

For tips on protecting your skin, visit sunsmart.com.au

The seeUV app can be downloaded for free on the App Store and Google Play

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