Summer 2022 . . . a good time to revisit the slip slop slap campaign of the early 1980s.
Australian studies have shown that, since this campaign was introduced in both Australia and New Zealand, the incidence of two of the most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, has decreased.
This means that the Kiwis who grew up after the 1980s will have fewer of these skin cancers as they get older and contrast with the generations who grew up in New Zealand in the old days; back when we spent time chasing the 'Coppertone tan'.
The sun injury back then, like nowadays, was worse for people in places where the sun comes back at you - like over water or on snow. A sound reason for covering up in those environments (remember sunscreen for nose lips and ears); and nowadays there's more UV danger in 'reflected sun' than back then, even on cloudy days! Interestingly, in the Kiwi high country the atmosphere is thinner, as there's less pollution filtering the sunlight, so even in the summer, there's more UV uphill than downhill.
A nuisance for the sun-baked generations is that, as the sun injured skin gets older, it starts making cancers. While we know that metal exposed to saltwater can be rinsed with fresh water to stop it from rusting later on, the nuisance with UV is it lays its seeds under our skin, we can't wash it off, not even with sunlight soap (dad joke), and because the rust seeded from sunshine grows much slower than rust on metal, people only start to notice it when the skin starts to develop crusts (usually some time after their fifties). The thing is, without intervention, the volume of cancer expression keeps increasing, so
that, by the time some people hit their 70th birthday, they will require several skin cancer surgeries a year.
SOLAR REHABILITATION ; reversing sun damage
There are neat strategies to help clear old UV damage.
A dedicated solar rehabilitation program, paired with careful follow up, helps reduce the number of skin cancers in the future.
Depending on the amount of damage it may only take a couple of visits to the doctor however, when someone has severe damage, and is getting frequent skin cancers, then it might take up to half a dozen dedicated appointments to simmer things back down.
The 'message of hope' is that it's possible to reverse some of the damage and this means less spent time having operations for skin cancer. Good one.
MELANOMA IN NZ from Better Practice Advocacy Centre (BPAC 17.1.2020)
New Zealand has one of the highest age-standardised incidence rates of melanoma in the world
Our Rates of melanoma are unacceptably high
Primary prevention is achieved by limiting UV radiation exposure
Risk assessment helps target people at risk
Sun smart messaging and improved surveillance (are necessary)
MELANOMA IS INCREASING
Slip Slop Slap has helped to protect us from most common skin cancers except melanoma, which is on the increase Slip slop slap definitely helps to reduce the risk of melanoma, but it definitely hasn't tamed it.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS BRILLIANT
Melanoma is safe when its treated in its earliest stages.
The thing is, no one knows how quickly a melanoma will grow and some will grow quickly. That's why It's a good idea for Kiwi adults to have a skin check every year. Melanoma is a disease that can shatter young lives, and we can help to prevent it in our community!
Things that can increase risk of melanoma
Large numbers of moles, especially on the shoulders
History of water blisters from sunburn
Illnesses treatments or medicines that affect the immune system
A large dark birthmark (small birth marks are common; this type is rarer)
Skin that burns and doesn't tan
Personal history of an abnormal or dysplastic mole (potential to become melanoma)
Personal history of melanoma
Family history of melanoma
A changing mole a bleeding mole, an unusual or sudden growth (melanoma can be normal skin colour)
BPAC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUNSCREEN APPLICATION (17.1.2020)
Use broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen (at least SPF30* and preferably SPF50+) applied 20 minutes before going outside
Reapply 10–20 minutes after going outside (the “two coat” approach),
Reapply every two hours after that
IN SUMMARY
Always slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen (OFTEN) and slap on a hat.
Regrettably, melanoma is on the increase, especially in New Zealand.
An annual skin check with your GP, or at your local skin service, is of high value, especially if you have an increased risk.
KIWISKIN - HAIKU #1
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