Reminder to be SunSmart in high temperatures this week

Take precautions and protect your skin

Watch Miriam’s advanced melanoma story (video)

With the Met Eireann Status Yellow warning for Ireland, forecasting sunny weather and high temperatures over the next few days, many of us will be spending more time outdoors at beaches, parks, playing sports and heading to concerts, sun protection should be a top priority.

The HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Healthy Ireland are reminding everyone of the importance of being SunSmart to protect their skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays to help reduce the risk of skin cancer. In Ireland, UV radiation levels can be high enough to damage skin, and the effects of sun exposure are cumulative over a lifetime. Taking precautions now can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer later on.

Dr Blaithin Moriarty, Consultant Dermatologist at St Vincent’s University Hospital, HSE, said: “UV radiation is the primary cause of skin cancer, and it doesn’t need to be hot or sunny for damage to occur. We regularly see patients who are surprised to learn they have sustained sun damage after spending time outdoors. Protecting your skin - with clothing, shade and sunscreen - is one of the most effective ways to safeguard your long-term health during high temperatures.”

The HSE and Healthy Ireland SunSmart Campaign is also sharing the powerful story of a skin cancer patient advocate to highlight the importance of sun protection from a young age.

Miriam Staunton, 53, from Dublin was diagnosed with advanced melanoma when she was 45 in 2018. “Although I didn’t have a skin lesion, my melanoma is likely as a result of many sunburns in childhood. I have very fair skin and growing up in the 70s and 80s sunscreen was not really used and sunburns were a very common occurrence. Although I have been mindful of my skin since adulthood, I think a lot of damage took place in my childhood and teens. I am a triathlete and am outdoors a lot, so I make sure to cover up, wear hats and sunscreen. My message to those listening is to above all mind your skin – it’s the only one you have. Melanoma is life threatening, and prevention really does save lives.”

The public is encouraged to follow these simple Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5 S’s this week and beyond:

• Slip on clothing. Cover skin as much as possible, wear long sleeves.
• Slop on sunscreen. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30+ for adults and 50+ for children that has a high UVA protection and is water resistant. Reapply every 2 hours, more frequently after swimming or sweating.
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat. Protect your face, ears and neck. Baseball caps do not provide enough protection.
• Seek shade. Especially if outdoors between 11am and 3pm - and always use a sunshade on a child’s buggy. Keep babies out of direct sunlight.
• Slide on sunglasses. Guard your eyes from harm by wearing sunglasses with UV protection.

As well as the 5 S’s it is important to remember do not deliberately try to get a suntan. Remember, tanned skin is damaged skin.  Avoid getting a sunburn. Never use a sunbed.

Up to 90% of UV rays can pass through cloud cover, meaning protection is essential regardless of the weather. People often rely on temperature as an indicator of risk, but UV exposure is the real danger. Even on overcast days, your skin can be damaged without proper protection.

We sometimes think Irish sun isn’t real sun, but skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland with over 11,000 cases diagnosed annually. The number of people being diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland is rising rapidly. Yet skin cancer is largely preventable by protecting skin from UV rays.

Dr Breeda Neville, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the HSE National Cancer Prevention Programme, said: “We want everyone to enjoy the good weather safely. By building sun protection into your routine, just like wearing a seatbelt in the car, you can protect your health now and in the future. Skin damage doesn’t just happen on holiday in hot, sunny places. The sun is often strong enough to cause damage here in Ireland, even on cloudy days, so remember to spend time in the shade, cover as much skin as you can with clothing, wear sunglasses and a hat and regularly apply sunscreen on exposed areas.”

Visit the SunSmart hub and follow #SunSmart on social media for updates and tips.