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Be Sun Smart
Slip, slop, slap
What is in the book?
Chapter: Sun
UV radiation and human health
Skin disorders
Suntan, sunburn, photoageing, sensitivity
Non-cancerous growth
Skin cancer
Eye disorders
Degeneration, sunburn, sensitivity
Cataracts, non-cancerous growth
Eye cancer
Circadian rhythm disorders
Melatonin
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Be sun-smart
‘SLIP, SLOP, SLAP – slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat.’ This is the simple message anti-cancer organizations convey to potential sun seekers, especially children, in the hope that protection from UV radiation will reduce the number of skin cancer victims.
Overexposure can still lead to many skin, eye and immune system disorders. Prevention is much easier, cheaper and less painful than treatment.
You shouldn’t lock yourself in a dark room, though. Measured exposure to sunshine is necessary to sustain life – your life. But what is too much sunshine?
There is no easy answer. Every person reacts differently to UV radiation. With an equal amount of radiation, some develop sunburn within minutes while others take hours. Always err on the safe side, especially if you are in a high-risk group. A respect for UV radiation is the key to sun-smart behaviour.
