Skin Cancer

Frequently Asked Questions about Skin Cancer

  • What is skin cancer ?
  • What is a melanoma ?
  • What is a non-melanoma skin cancer ?
  • What are the main risk factors for skin cancer ?
  • What is ultraviolet radiation (UVR) ?

Sun Exposure and Tanning

  • Is it possible to develop skin cancer if your skin does not burn ?
  • Does a tan provide protection against developing skin cancer ?
  • Is it possible to safely obtain a tan from exposure to ultraviolet radiation ?
  • Are solaria or sun-beds a safe way to tan ?
  • Do you only need to protect yourself from the sun when it is hot and sunny ?
  • Can you only be harmed by the sun during the middle of the day ?
  • Is it only old people that need to look for changes in their skin ?
  • How much sun exposure is required to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D ?

For the Answers: Australian Government Skin Cancer Website

Protection

To reduce your risk of skin cancer, protect yourself in 5 ways:

  • Put on a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears
  • Wear sun protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible.

Long sleeved shirts with a collar, and longer style pants or skirts are good for sun protection. Fabric of clothing needs to have a tight weave and be darker in colour to increase your protection from ultraviolet radiation

  • Seek shade
  • Wear wrap-around sunglasses
  • Apply SPF30+ broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen liberally to clean dry skin, at least twenty minutes before being exposed to the sun, and reapply at least every two hours when outdoors

Types of Skin Cancer

There are three main types of skin cancer:

The two most common types of skin cancer are BCC and SCC. They are also known as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC).

Melanoma is the most dangerous and can quickly spread to other parts of the body.

Other Information

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