So finally we have a bit of sunshine and summer weather! While the sun is great for our mood and Vitamin D it also carries a risk of skin cancer. Currently there are over 9,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year. Many of these can be traced back to unprotected sun exposure or the use of sun beds. Enjoy the sun while it lasts, but make sure to follow three simple rules to protect you and your family against skin cancer
- SLIP on a shirt with long sleeves and a collar and wear long trousers when out in the sun for long periods.
- SLAP on a hat to protect your head and neck. Ideally this should be a bucket or legionnaire style hat to protect your neck, ears and face.
- SLOP on some sun block. This should be factor 15 or better and the bottle should display the standard UVA logo.
For more information on this topic visit the Irish Cancer Society website by clicking here. You can also watch this video to learn more about skin cancer and how to prevent it.