How do you cope with Australia's worst natural danger ?

[Cedric]

Hello everybody,

 

sorry for the "catchy" title, but since there is lot of competition you go to sell the thing :biglaugh:

 

Visiting this forum and others I have read a lot of things about people being scared of being bitten by a snake, some giant spider or even serve as a snack for a giant shark or a saltie when in Australia. Nevertheless, whereas these kind of events are highly advertized in the media, we know that the probability of being the victim of these type of accident is very low.

 

In the meantime, we tend to ignore other types of dangers, although they represent a higher risk. I think we are all subject to the same "field of distorstion" in our perceptions: we tend to ignore or underestimate the dangers represented by things we are familiar and to exaggerate the risks of whatever is unknown, or unfamiliar to us.

 

Australia is known to be by far (along with New Zealand) the country most affected by skin cancer. This particularity is the product of a particular combination of factors: a fair-skinned population of british ascendance, a lower distance from the sun in the southern hemisphere vs northern hemisphere, the proximity with Antartica and its depleted ozone layer and the relatively low air pollution vs similar countries in the northern hemisphere. In fact, UV index reaches "extremes" values during most part of spring and summer in almost every part in Australia (see: ARPANSA - UV Index Data ) According to a recent report (http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/can/56/12138.pdf ), the incidence of melanoma and other types of skin cancer has augmented since 1998, although this fact can be partly attributed to better screening and life expectancy.

 

I personally am fair-skinned, with lots of moles and I get screened each year for skin cancer (in switzerland, for some unexplained reasons, we have the highest rate of skin cancer incidence in Europe, along with Norway). So for me, this is one major concern about coming to live in Australia. So I would be interested to know how people like me do cope with this potential danger ? Do you take particular precautions to minimize the risks ? As for myself for instance, whereas I love to swim, I could not imagine to come to the beach between 10 am and 5 pm during the summer months when in Australia.

 

Cheers,

 

Cedric

[basil]

I find the aussies very sun smart, slip - slap - slop is their campaign, slip on a t-shirt, slap on a hat and slop on the sunscreen.

 

If I got to the beach I cover up with a rashvest (spf 50 one) for swimming and boardies and good quality, water resistant sun cream everywhere else.

 

Day to day I wear spf 30 moisturiser, even in winter.

[Quoll]

Yup, stay out of the sun or cover up so much that not much is showing. There are some concerns about the possible carcinogenic effects of sunscreen as well which just adds to the excitement.

[Guest guest32776]

Because skin cancer is common here the Aussies are very clued up on pre-empting problems. It is easy to get regular screenings and moles removed if you need to. When you live in the sun the urge to sunbake is lost very quickly. One thing I find odd is that you can buy factor 100 in Europe but only 30 here yet, it is the same stuff just a naming difference I am led to believe.

[Bobj]

In the days when I had to stand out in the middle of the road, supervising some roadworks in the Kimberlies, it was common practice to use long sleeved cotton shirts, a big hat and polaroid sunnies...Did that off and on for 12 years.

Went from 110 deg F in Kununurra, to Glen Innes NSW and 82 F...and got sunburnt...Why? Rarer atmosphere due to being 3300 ft up in the New England Ranges...Figure that out.

 

Cheers, Bobj.

[Guest]

Yup, stay out of the sun or cover up so much that not much is showing. There are some concerns about the possible carcinogenic effects of sunscreen as well which just adds to the excitement.

 

interesting one that. Apparently as the use of sun screen has increased so has the

incidence of skin cancer.

 

A booklet written by this bloke convinced me to only ever use zinc.

 

How Toxic is Your Sunscreen?

[fish.01]

Because skin cancer is common here the Aussies are very clued up on pre-empting problems. It is easy to get regular screenings and moles removed if you need to. When you live in the sun the urge to sunbake is lost very quickly. One thing I find odd is that you can buy factor 100 in Europe but only 30 here yet, it is the same stuff just a naming difference I am led to believe.

 

It think anything over 30 barely adds to your level of protection so they banned the advertisement of it because people thought 100 must be 3 times better than 30.

[Guest chris955]

I'm still amazed on the odd occassion we go to the beach at the number of younger people, especially girls, that lay on the beach for hours getting the colour of gravy with seemingly little thought of what they will look like in later years. Our kids don't tend to go out in the blazing sun unless totally covered.

[Guest guest32776]

I'm still amazed on the odd occassion we go to the beach at the number of younger people, especially girls, that lay on the beach for hours getting the colour of gravy with seemingly little thought of what they will look like in later years. Our kids don't tend to go out in the blazing sun unless totally covered.

 

Same here - there seems to be no level of heat not conducive to the backpacker community stripping down to their smalls and sprawling out. Oddly, I've seen more skin damage on expat women Spain - the shrivelled up prune look seems to be quite vogue there with a gold clicky mule.....

[Quoll]

Same here - there seems to be no level of heat not conducive to the backpacker community stripping down to their smalls and sprawling out. Oddly, I've seen more skin damage on expat women Spain - the shrivelled up prune look seems to be quite vogue there with a gold clicky mule.....

 

Yes, I am horrified by the skin that some women of my age have - Shar pei personified, some of them.

[Parley]

Never deliberately go out in the sun.

Wait for the shade to come over or early evening if you are going to beach.

[Petals]

We get just as burnt when its cloudy as sunny. In the paper everyday they have the UV index giving the hours when its at its highest. So obviously avoid that time in the sun if possible.

 

Some people can be in the sun all the time and never get the shrivelled wrinkled skin that others get. Depends on our genes I believe.

 

If you see a spot which does not heal etc get down to the doc and get it removed. Aussie docs are very good at removing skin cancer they get a lot of practice.

 

Melanoma is the baddy and often people do not notice it until its too late. Any mole that turns dark get to the doc.

[Kel1]

It was something that concerned us too, we have been wearing factor 30 moisturiser everyday, even on the cloudy days etc, as it is still very strong! It is crazy how many people turn ronseal brown and don't wear any suncream, not worrying at all! I think you just have to turn it into a part of your morning routine so it becomes habit.

[Cedric]

I think this is more about marketing than everything else. If you look at the curve related to the spector of absorption you can see that it is a sigmoid one, so the the benefits you actually get above 30 SPF is actually only marginal.The real problem is that to get the effective protection advertised, you would be supposed to put A LOT of sunscreen on. I don't remember the exact quantity but it is much more than the average people put on, so the real protection is actually lesser than the one advertised on the tube.

[fish.01]

I think this is more about marketing than everything else. If you look at the curve related to the spector of absorption you can see that it is a sigmoid one, so the the benefits you actually get above 30 SPF is actually only marginal.The real problem is that to get the effective protection advertised, you would be supposed to put A LOT of sunscreen on. I don't remember the exact quantity but it is much more than the average people put on, so the real protection is actually lesser than the one advertised on the tube.

 

and reapply a lot more often than we do as well :cool:

[Guest guest30038]

I've never used the stuff except when fishing, and only then because I don't want to get burned and spoil my day..............don't worry about melanoma at all.............call me irresponsible but if melanoma don't get me, something else will...............if your number's up, it's up (IMHO) I've seen too many folk die young, having never done anything to deserve it, to worry about tomorrow.

 

kev

[Cedric]

I've never used the stuff except when fishing, and only then because I don't want to get burned and spoil my day..............don't worry about melanoma at all.............call me irresponsible but if melanoma don't get me, something else will...............if your number's up, it's up (IMHO) I've seen too many folk die young, having never done anything to deserve it, to worry about tomorrow.

 

kev

 

I suppose you are right to some extent. Thanks for this lesson of stoicism :yes:

[starlight7]

I only use sunscreen if I go to the beach but if it is really hot I wear a hat, mainly to stop headaches. I usually wear sunnies though because I don't want cataracts.

[Guest arussell]

Thought you might be interested: apparently, eating just one tomato a day doubles your UV protection! Also, skin cancer is associated with low levels of selenium (a micronutrient) and high levels of saturated fats - so I try to take supplements (inc selenium, broad spectrum antioxidants - ie. not just A,C,E but a range of antioxidants [eg. coenzyme Q10, cumin etc] as they all work in different ways) and keep saturated fats to a minimum. And, of course, lots of fresh fruits and veg esp tomatoes :-) There's some good info on internethealthlibrary.com Hope this helps.

 

Andrew

[olly]

We get just as burnt when its cloudy as sunny. In the paper everyday they have the UV index giving the hours when its at its highest. So obviously avoid that time in the sun if possible.

 

Some people can be in the sun all the time and never get the shrivelled wrinkled skin that others get. Depends on our genes I believe.

 

If you see a spot which does not heal etc get down to the doc and get it removed. Aussie docs are very good at removing skin cancer they get a lot of practice.

 

Melanoma is the baddy and often people do not notice it until its too late. Any mole that turns dark get to the doc.

 

 

Another thing I might add here Petals is that if you do go to the Dr. and they say it's nothing, it's not malignant, it could be important to get a second opinion. This happened to my brother, he is a sailor and was out on the boat with protection but noticed a very tiny irritation on his arm and his Dr. said not to worry, but only a few weeks later it became more irritated and he went to a specialist to get a second opinion. What a shock he got when the specialist said he was taking it out straight away. Now in that short time it took to get to the other skin doctor, a melanoma could have got away from where it originated and moved internally and he wouldn't have even noticed it. He still says how lucky he was. It doesn't even have to be a mole, any discolouration/itchy spot etc, get it checked without fail and insist on seeing a skin cancer specialist. It could save your life.

Personally, I am fair and redheaded, so get freckles if I go out in the sun, so I don't. Only go out with hat etc and usually walk the dog after the sun has gone down after 5pm etc.

[Guest sh7t man no way]

theres heaps of skin cancer clinics in australia (this in itself is a worrying thing) most aussies are aware of the damage the sun can do (fatal or life scaring in the worst cases)--i worry sometime for people who come from a country who are not educated such as the australians in the dangers of the sun--they seem to think its great,and think laying in the sun is the thing to do:no:in the summer months most australian avoid the sun,and if they wish to enjoy the sun for short periods the slip/slop/slap to the extream (put protection on)--i personelly think as part of the immigration process this should be made aware to the applicants,and some type of test should be taken--but having said all this if you are aware of the dangers, you can enjoy all that australia offers:wubclub:also in the winter months it may be not as hot ,but the danger is still present--protection against the sun in australia is adviseable all year round

[fairystar32]

I am very careful. I am a great beliver in the sun is healthy and we NEED vitamin D, skin cancer is raising in part too the overuse of chemical sunscreens, burning, bad food we eat and lack of vitamin D due to many, many studies I have read.

I am currently registered for the worldwide study for vitamin D.

http://www.grassrootshealth.net/

 

I go into the midday sun everyday for a very short time and then I cover up. If we are in the sun all day, the kids wear uv tops and as chemical free as I can find sunscreen.

 

The sun is healthy is small doses.... over exposure, burning and chemicals are not.

[LKC]

I was found to be vitamin D deficient a couple of years ago, which I attribute to the over zealous application of sunscreen and always covering up when we first arrived in Australia. I now make sure that I get a little sunshine every day, without the sunscreen. If I am popping out for twenty minutes, and it isn't too sunny I don't use sunscreen at all, if I am going to be out in the sun I do. Or I cover up.

 

I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in one of my vertebrae yesterday, and I am wondering if that has something to do with the vit d deficiency (we need vit d and calcium to make strong bones). I have got some vitamin d liquid to take, which will maybe help with healing.

[josetann]

theres heaps of skin cancer clinics in australia (this in itself is a worrying thing) most aussies are aware of the damage the sun can do (fatal or life scaring in the worst cases)--i worry sometime for people who come from a country who are not educated such as the australians in the dangers of the sun--they seem to think its great,and think laying in the sun is the thing to do:no:in the summer months most australian avoid the sun,and if they wish to enjoy the sun for short periods the slip/slop/slap to the extream (put protection on)--i personelly think as part of the immigration process this should be made aware to the applicants,and some type of test should be taken--but having said all this if you are aware of the dangers, you can enjoy all that australia offers:wubclub:also in the winter months it may be not as hot ,but the danger is still present--protection against the sun in australia is adviseable all year round

 

I'm from an area with a lot of rednecks. Reason we're called that? First nice day in spring, everyone goes out. Next day, they're red as a beet. They literally have red necks (and arms, and whatever else was exposed). I too have been guilty of this when younger, but generally to a lesser degree (though I have had some bad burns, I'll admit). Sunscreen may be forgotten...but once you burn you'll definitely use some Noxema (helps cool, and I suppose heal). And hats...this is the land of the backwards baseball cap. You might see a few elderly folks wearing a wide-brimmed hat, but generally they'd wear a baseball cap too (though, facing the right direction).

 

And yes...if you're going to be out in the sun all day, a long sleeved shirt can keep you cooler (and offer some sun protection as well). Seems counter productive (in relation to keeping one cool), but there you go.

[Sol2Oz]

eww, i would never go out in that sun without any type of protection.

 

Funny because I am battling vitamin D deficiency but not for that reason - more because I don't see enough sunlight and probably because it's always dark, rainy and gloomy.

 

So I'm over 35 but frequently mistaken for being younger (I get carded and can't buy a drink without it), but I'm sure once I step off the plane and take an ounce of that sun, my old age will come crashing down on me in such a bad way, that I'm sure they won't be able to recognise me when I go back for a visit! :cry: So I will shield myself from that sun 'till kingdom come!!