Slip on protective clothing, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat to stay sun safe
While the grey nomad lifestyle is widely credited with helping many older Australians stay active, sociable, and healthy … there are potential hazards.
There’s not too much wrong with enjoying Happy Hours in the afternoon sunshine, taking long bushwalks, and wandering along glorious beaches … as long as you take sensible precautions to protect yourself from the sun.
Australia has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world and, the more time you spend outdoors when you have not used sun protection, the more you increase your long-term risk of skin cancer.
In 2021, it was estimated that a person has a one in 18 (or 5.7%) risk of being diagnosed with melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 15 or 6.7% for males and 1 in 22 or 4.6% for females).
The advice for grey nomads enjoying all of the wonders of the Big Lap is to remember the basics. And that means avoiding sunburn by minimising sun exposure when the UV Index is 3 or above, and especially in the middle of the day when UV levels are most intense.
Seek shade, wear a hat that covers the head, neck and ears, wear sun protective clothing and close-fitting sunglasses, and wear an SPF30 sunscreen. As with many cancers, early diagnosis can dramatically improve the prognosis for people who do develop melanomas.
Grey nomads – like all Australians – are encouraged to keep an eye out for early warning signs … and to get regular skin check-ups.
Signs of melanoma can be a change in an existing mole or the appearance of a new spot. These might involve a mole changing in colour or shade, getting bigger, developing an irregular shape, becoming raised, or itching or bleeding.
Dr Glen Parker from the Tweed Skin Cancer Clinic in Tweed Heads, NSW, told the GNT that leaving skin cancer for too long can have negative consequences.
He said it can often mean the difference between a simple curative treatment, and long drawn-out multi-level treatments because the disease has spread into the lymph nodes and blood stream.
“A common theme we see in our patients is that most skin cancers and melanomas we find, they were simply unaware of,” he said. “This highlights the importance of having your skin checked regularly, and staying on top of it, not just when it gets out of hand … if left too long you may end up going through the worst.”
To me it is as important as getting Covid vaccinations. My advice to all is get your skin checked regularly at a Skin & Mole clinic. We have had ours checked regularly for many years.
I get mine done every 6 months & never walk out without at least 5 or 6 sometimes more burnt off it’s not only what you do now most cases the damage is already done over the years so easy to cure but only if you get regular checks