A NSW Government report has revealed more people are protecting their skin from the sun's harmful UV rays, however an estimated 700, 000 people across the state were recently sunburnt.
Released today, Cancer Institute NSW's Sun Protection Behaviours Report shows 10 per cent of adults reported being sunburnt at least once in the four-week period before they were surveyed, down from almost 15 per cent from the previous report.
However, there was no improvement from the previous report in the number of young adults, aged 18-24 years, getting sunburnt, with around one in five (18.5%) reporting a recent sunburn. Young adults were also less likely to adopt sun protection behaviours such as wearing protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
The report also provided insights on sun exposure, finding around 40 per cent of all surveyed adults were frequently exposed to the sun from 11am-3pm, when UV levels are highest, yet only around 40 per cent used three or more forms of sun protection.
Two out of three Australians will be treated for skin cancer in their lifetime. In Australia, ninety-five per cent of melanoma and 99 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and can be prevented with proper sun protection. The general rule is to protect your skin from the sun when the UV index is at three or above, which in NSW is most of the year, including in winter.
The Cancer Institute NSW has several initiatives in place to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in NSW as part of the NSW Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy 2023-2030. Initiatives include behaviour change campaigns, influencing shade provision in public spaces and working with organisations in areas where people work, live and play to adopt sun protection policies and behaviours.
The most effective defence against overexposure to UV radiation is to follow these five key steps:
- Slip on protective clothing
- Slop on SPF50+ sunscreen 20 minutes before you go out, and reapply every two hours
- Slap on a wide brimmed hat that covers your face, ears and neck
- Seek shade throughout the day
- Slide on sunglasses that meet Australian Standards
Other report insights
- More than 85 per cent of adults used at least one form of sun protection, however, only 38 per cent used three or more, and less than 5 per cent used all five forms of sun protection.
- Men aged 40 and over were more likely than the overall population to be exposed to the sun during peak UV hours (11am-3pm). Although they were more likely to wear a sun-safe hat, they were less likely to use sunscreen.
- People from coastal and regional and rural areas were significantly more likely to be exposed to the sun during peak UV hours compared to those from Sydney metropolitan areas, but their use of sun protection was generally higher and there were no geographical differences in reports of sunburn.
The latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report analyses data from the 2024 NSW Health Population Health Survey, which asked about 10,000 people to report on their sun exposure, episodes of sunburn, adoption of the five sun protection behaviours and the ease of finding shade at public parks. These results were extrapolated to the NSW population.
More information on how to reduce your risk of skin cancer is available on the Cancer Institute NSW website.
Quotes attributable to Health Minister Ryan Park:
"The release of the latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report is a good reminder especially to the state's young adults to protect their skin when outside.
"Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world and we need to take the threat of skin cancer seriously and follow the simple, life-saving steps needed to reduce our risk of this deadly disease."
Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O'Brien AM:
"We are fortunate to live in a sun-drenched country but with that comes the increased risk of skin cancer, that's why it is worrying that so many adults have been recently sunburnt.
"The report shows while progress has been made, we need to see more people protect their skin from the sun by doing the simple things we've been told for decades like seeking shade, wearing sunscreen, putting on a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing whenever we head outdoors."
Quotes attributable to Katrina, diagnosed with melanoma aged 26 years:
"I went to get my skin checked for the first time; a couple of my friends had been for skin checks so I thought it would be a good thing to do - like going to the dentist. The doctor biopsied one spot on my arm that looked suspicious. I was really shocked when I got the call to say it was an early-stage melanoma.
"I now encourage friends and siblings to get their skin checked. My melanoma was caught early, when it was treatable but it's really scary for me to think about what might have happened if I hadn't have had that skin check when I did."
