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It's lovely to live in a sunny country and a sexy tan is a show-offish sign of an exotic holiday. But, the downer is that South Africa has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
You've probably heard that tanning beds are fine, or that you don't have to protect your skin with sunscreen if you build a tan gradually. But are any of these statements true?
Myth: The sun boosts Vitamin D levels – so it must be good.
Fact: While a tiny amount of sun exposure is good for boosting your Vitamin D levels, anything more than five to 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a day is risky. Tanning is downright dangerous. The World Health Organization (WHO) report between two and three million non-melanoma skin cancers and over 130 000 malignant melanomas globally every year.
Myth: Only people with fair hair and blue eyes are at risk for skin cancer.
Fact: Although people with light or red hair and blue eyes are at higher risk, the incidence of skin cancer is increasing among darker-skinned people too. Research shows that the effect of UV rays is cause for concern for both light and darker-skinned South Africans.
Myth: I've been sun-safe for the past decade, so I have no risk of developing skin cancer.
Fact: Sun damage to the skin is cumulative and, often, damage caused during the first 15 years of life only becomes apparent years later.
Myth: I already have a nice tan and freckles, so my skin is used to the sun and will not damage as easily.
Fact: Benign freckles and sunspots may need only one incidence of overexposure to the sun to become malignant.
Myth: The sun is good for my baby or toddler’s skin.
Fact: Children can suffer skin damage within seven minutes of sun exposure during the hottest time of day, which is from 11am to 3pm.
Myth: The sun’s damaging UV rays cannot penetrate thick glass or water.
Truth: Up to 35 percent of UVB and 85 percent of UVA rays can indeed penetrate thick glass, while up to 50 percent of UVB and 77 percent of UVA rays can penetrate a metre of water or wet cotton clothing.
Myth: Sunbeds and tanning lamps are safe.
Truth: Absolutely not. These beds emit UVA rays and are unsafe. The rays can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, causing damage even before your skin turns red. UVA rays make the skin tough and wrinkled, and can increase your risk for skin cancer.
