Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun’s UV radiation. When UV levels are 3 or above, use all or as many of the following ways to protect your skin as possible. After a diagnosis of skin cancer, it is especially important to check your skin regularly and follow SunSmart behaviour.
 | Slip on clothingWear clothing that covers your shoulders, neck, arms, legs and body. Choose closely woven fabric or fabric with a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating, and darker fabrics where possible. |
 | Slop on sunscreenUse SPF 50 or SPF 50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen and apply every morning. Apply 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming, sweating or activity that rubs it off. For an adult, use about 7 teaspoons of sunscreen to cover the full body. If you’re wearing protective clothing, use 1 teaspoon for each exposed arm, leg, or face, neck and ears. |
 | Slap on a hatWear a hat that shades your face, neck and ears, such as a legionnaire, broadbrimmed or bucket hat. Check that the hat meets the Australian Standard. Choose fabric with a close weave that doesn’t let light through. Baseball caps and sun visors don’t offer full protection. |
 | Slide on sunglassesProtect your eyes with sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard (with a lens category of 2, 3 or 4). Wraparound styles are best. Sunglasses should be worn all year round to protect both the eyes and the delicate skin around the eyes. |
 | Seek shadeUse shade from trees, umbrellas, buildings or any type of canopy. UV radiation is reflective and bounces off surfaces, such as concrete, water, sand and snow, so shade should never be the only form of sun protection you use. If you can see the sky through the shade, even if the direct sun is blocked, the shade will not completely protect you from UV radiation. |
 | Don’t use solariumsIt is not safe to use solariums. Also known as tanning beds or sun lamps, solariums give off artificial UV radiation and are banned for commercial use in Australia. |
 | Check daily sun protection timesEach day, use the free SunSmart Global UV app to check the recommended sun protection times in your local area, and use sun protection when the UV is 3 or above. For more information, visit sunsmart.com.au. |
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All updated content has been clinically reviewed by Prof Victoria Mar, Director, Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, VIC and Prof Anne Cust, Acting Director, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, and faculty member, Melanoma Institute Australia. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Prof Victoria Mar (see above); Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Raelene Buchan, Consumer; Alison Button-Sloan, Consumer; Dr Margaret Chua, Radiation Oncologist, and the Skin Radiation Oncology team, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anne Cust, (see above); A/Prof Paul Fishburn, Skin Cancer Doctor, Norwest Skin Cancer Centre, NSW and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland; Danielle Goss, Melanoma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Amie St Clair Melanoma (part of Melanoma Institute Australia), Wagga Wagga, NSW; Louise Pellerade, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Dr Shireen Sidhu, Head of Dermatology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Amelia Smit, Research Fellow – Melanoma and Skin Cancer, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Dr Tony Tonks, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Canberra Plastic Surgery, ACT. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title. Thanks also to Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre for providing the dysplastic naevus photograph on page 11, A/Prof Paul Fishburn for providing the sunspot photograph on page 10, A/Prof Andrew Miller for providing the age spot photograph on page 10, and Prof H Peter Soyer for providing the other photographs on pages 9–11.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
