Slip Slop Slap and Other Tanning Matters

Travel insurance won’t cover damage to your skin if you decide to lie out in the sun and fry yourself on holiday. We missed the boat a bit because the official Sun Awareness Week was last week, but thought we should mention it anyway as it is so important. This is the time of year when we are all thinking about our sunny summer hols and getting a nice suntan. The British Association of Dermatologists’ and British Skin Foundation hold an annual campaign to promote sun safety. This year it was from May 7-13. 

There we were thinking we were doing enough… smugly covering our bodies with sunscreen, wearing loose clothing and hats. Then a new Lancet report comes along to cast doubts about all that.  It seems that fabrics like linen and cotton may not be enough to keep out the rays. Apparently we’d be better off wearing thick and tightly-woven garments made of fabrics like denim, polyester and wool, which would offer better protection.  Who wants to go out in the sun wearing wool or polyester? To go along with your high SPF sunscreen you’d need some HPF (high pong-factor) deodorant.

In Australia and New Zealand the successful Slip-Slop-Slap campaign has been about for years to educate the public and prevent skin cancer. The popular slogan literally means to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat - to protect from harmful UV rays.  The Down Under campaign to raise awareness later included Slip-Slop-Slap-Wrap – a reminder to wear sunglasses. Visit: www.cancer.org.au/content.cfm?randid=906824.

Having lived abroad for many years I was guilty of exposing my fair British skin to a lot of sun – sometimes with sunscreen, sometimes not.  I had a few bad burns during sailing and skiing trips where the reflected light is very intense. A tiny red patch developed on my cheek which wouldn’t go away and would repeatedly bleed and scab over if I scratched at it.  I knew enough to know that moles weren’t the only signs to watch for, so took myself off to a doctor.  A biopsy revealed skin cancer - a basal cell carcinoma - not the really bad kind, but it had to be removed. I was in my early thirties - not old!

Back here in the U.K. friends comment and ask why I wear sunglasses any time the sun is out and sometimes when it’s overcast. This is not an attempt to look hip or mysterious!  I tell them they should wear sunglasses too, but many don’t take it seriously.  Brits have not had much cause to worry about sun damage before but with global warming, climate change, and a scorching summer forecast we all need to start being a bit more savvy and take care of ourselves.  Eyes also need protection from the sun’s harmful rays.  Make sure you invest in a good pair though – don’t buy the darkest ones you can find at Woolies or the petrol station.  Wearing cheap sunglasses – especially very dark ones - could cause more damage than if you wore none at all.  Dark lenses cause your pupils to dilate wider – which lets in more harmful rays!  If you don’t believe it, have a look at: www.health.uab.edu/default.aspx?pid=68489

Ask family or a close friend to check your nether regions for suspicious moles or spots.  If you don’t have any friends who want to get that close then use mirrors or ask your GP!  If moles appear suddenly, start behaving differently, or are in a location where they are constantly rubbed by clothing, have them looked at by a health professional. For more in- depth information do some research for yourself on sites such as The British Skin Foundation: www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk and The Institute of Cancer Research:  www.safe-campaign.org.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 15th, 2007 at 7:33 am and is filed under Travel News, Traveller's Tales .

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