Sun worshippers dicing with death

By KATHERINE HOBY

New Zealanders are risking serious sunburn and potentially fatal skin cancer by continuing to trust burn time indicator readings that cancer experts say are outdated.

Labour Weekend is the official start of summer and, as the temperatures rise, people head outdoors into the summer sun.

Cancer Society health programme manager Carolyn Watts says many sun worshippers have misleading or old information about how long it is safe to stay and play in the sun.

She says the burn-time indicator people have lived with for years is subjective and can be misleading.

"We are hoping to phase out 'burn time'. People think they understand it, but they don't at all," she says.

"They hear the number of minutes and think it's okay to sit in the sun unprotected until that time expires and they start to burn."

The UV index (UVI), which is an internationally recognised measure, shows the amount of ultraviolet radiation under clear skies that is reaching your skin.

It is graded from 1, described as "minimal", to 15, or extreme. This measure is now widely used in New Zealand media.

The UVI risk is 1-5 (low to moderate), 6-7 (high), 8-10 (very high) and 10-15 (extreme). The MetService says the index is expected to reach a maximum value of 13 during summer, and is highest about 1pm.

Ms Watts says that between October and March, when daylight saving is in force, the index soars above 6 almost daily in New Zealand. "And with anything above 6 you need protecting," she says.

The UVI is much more of a standard measure, she says, and caters to those with all skin types, from tanned to very fair-skinned.

The ozone layer is important because it acts like a giant shield against the sun's harmful rays. UV radiation is made up of three parts: UVA, UVB and UVC. The radiation is known to cause sunburn, skin cancer, and eye disease.

New Zealand has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, and skin cancers cost the health system about $33 million a year.

The annual cost of treating skin cancers in hospitals is about $14 million, and a conservative figure for treating them outside hospitals is $19 million.

There are four types of skin growths to watch for:

MELANOMA

Malignant melanoma is the uncontrolled growth of tanning cells in the skin and is a serious form of cancer. It can spread rapidly and kill if left untreated. However, the surgical removal of cancerous lesions is fairly simple. About 200 New Zealanders die from melanoma each year.

It is the most well-known cancer but overall makes up less than 5 per cent of all skin cancers.

It is also the most common cancer in people aged 20 to 39. The number of cases of melanoma has doubled in the past 30 years, and Australian researchers predict a seven-fold increase in rates in the next 10 years. There are nearly 50,000 new skin cancers a year, and 1800 of melanoma.

Keep an eye on moles and freckles and keep the ABCD rule in mind - any which are Asymmetrical, have irregular Borders, are more than one Colour, or have a Diameter of more than 5mm should be checked.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

This looks like a raised, crusty, non-healing sore and often appears on hands, forearms, face or neck. If found early it is easy to treat, but left untreated it can be lethal. It is more common in people over 40 than younger people, and makes up 15 to 20 per cent of all skin cancers.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

This is pale red or pearly smooth lump. It is the most common skin cancer. About 75 per cent of skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. They need treatment and can be serious if left.

SUNSPOTS (solar keratoses)

These are flat, red and sometimes scaling spots. They are a warning that you might be likely to develop skin cancer. They are common in fair-skinned people over 40 who have been in the sun a lot.

The Cancer Society says:

* Spending less time in the sun between 11am and 4pm can reduce UV radiation exposure by up to 60 per cent.

* The old phrase still rings true: slip (on a T-shirt), slop (on some sunscreen), slap (on a hat) and wrap (some decent sunglasses).

* Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going into the sun. This will let it dry and be absorbed into the skin.

* Be vigilant about possible skin cancers and get them checked early.

* Take extra care to protect face and neck with sunscreen and hats.

* Wet fabrics may give only half as much sun protection as dry. Tight woven fabrics are best.

* It takes two tablespoons of sunscreen to cover the average adult properly.

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/health