Dermaterrorist Alert - AU Medical Association: 12-minute warning for beach-lovers

[Ezliving_Jim]

Soaking up the sun ... it's the New Year's holidays and time for millions of Australians to hit the sand, but experts have some tips to help those descending on our beaches to stay safe as they work up a sweat.

12-minute warning for beach-lovers


January 02, 2008 12:00am
Article from: </IMG>



THERE is no such thing as a safe tan - with experts warning yesterday that as little as 12 minutes in the sun can be harmful.


As big waves battered beaches along Australia's east coast for the second day in a row, hordes of people still flocked to the shore to sunbake instead.

Skin cancer specialists and doctors are reissuing their warning to teenagers and young adults to ditch the trendy suntan this summer.

With temperatures rising into the 30s next week, the UV index is likely to be extreme. That means skin can burn in as little as 12 minutes.

Australian Medical Association president Dr Rosanna Capolingua said once skin started to burn, damage could set in.

"Anyone can develop skin cancer or melanoma. Young people shouldn't feel that they are immune to the health risks of sun exposure," she said. "Teenagers and young adults tend to have a false sense of security when it comes to sun exposure and their health. They assume skin cancer is something that happens to older people."

Despite health advice that Australians need at least 15 minutes of sun several times a week to boost vitamin D, the Cancer Council warns against specifically exposing skin.

One in two people will develop skin cancer, and a summer advertising blitz is showing young girls the devastating danger of tanning. As soon as a tan has developed, the risk of skin cancer increases.

"There is no safe level of tanning," Ms Capolingua said. "A lot of people spend time in the sun over summer, at the beach, playing sport or at outdoor events, but we mustn't be complacent."

Friends Loren Brilley, Melissa Smith and Emma Reinhard were yesterday taking no chances.

While the three from Bathurst admitted sunbaking in their backyards, they said they always applied sunscreen and tried to avoid the extreme UV period from 10am to 3pm.

"I got really annoyed with myself the other day when I got burnt," Ms Reinhard, 22, said. "I know it causes damage and skin cancer."

Ms Smith said a spray tan was the safer option for her. "I have white pasty skin so I can't stay out in the sun for too long. Just get a spray tan."

The girls were at Sydney's Coogee Beach, one of the city's only beaches to be opened on New Year's Day.

A low pressure cell which has battered southeast Queensland has forced the closure of many beaches along the coast.

All beaches north of Manly to the Queensland border were closed, as were beaches in Sutherland. Some Illawarra and South Coast beaches will inevitably be closed.

Source

[solarmeter®]

Despite health advice that Australians need at least 15 minutes of sun several times a week to boost vitamin D, the Cancer Council warns against specifically exposing skin.

That's so they can KEEP getting funds and boondoggles from big pharma sunscreen. To say otherwise would cut off their noses to spite their face. It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ .

[solman]

Originally Posted by Ezliving_Jim

One in two people will develop skin cancer, and a summer advertising blitz is showing young girls the devastating danger of tanning. As soon as a tan has developed, the risk of skin cancer increases.

Source

Am I reading this right? Are they saying that 50% of people will develop skin cancer?