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FAQs

Summer: Here are some popular questions asked at this time of the year

Do I need sun protection on cooler days in summer?
Is it safer to start by tanning slowly?
Where is the best place to buy good quality sunscreen?
Do sunglasses with darker lenses provide better eye protection?
Do more expensive sunglasses provide better protection?
If swimwear doesn't have a UPF rating, does it still provide sun protection?
I used lots of sunscreen. How come I still got burnt?
Don't I need to get some sun for vitamin D?
Do baseball caps provide good sun protection?

Do I need sun protection on cooler days in summer?

Temperature should not be used as a guide to using sun protection. Temperature relates to the amount of infrared present in sunlight, not ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can cause skin damage. A cooler day means there is less infrared, but UV radiation can still be high.

Is it safer to start by tanning slowly?

There is no safe way to tan. A tan is a sign that your skin is trying to protect itself from UV damage. It is not a sign of good health. A natural tan offers very limited sun protection against sunburn, usually similar to an SPF 4 sunscreen depending on your skin type. It does not protect against DNA damage, or against ageing.

Where is the best place to buy good quality sunscreen?

Whether sunscreen is bought at the supermarket, pharmacy or from Cancer Council, always look for SPF 30+, broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen.

There are many different brands and different types with different ingredients.

Choose the best one for you and always use sunscreen with other sun protection, so also Slip! Slap! Seek! and Slide!

Do sunglasses with darker lens provide better eye protection?

Sunglasses sold in Australia must be labelled to indicate which Australian standard (AS/NZS 1067:2003) category they comply with. Look for category 2, 3 or 4. Sunglasses that meet the standard prevent at least 95% of UV reaching the eyes regardless of the ‘darkness' or ‘tint' of the lens.

Remember, design of sunglasses is also important as close fitting, wrap around lenses stop UV entering from the sides and tops of the lenses.

Do more expensive sunglasses provide better protection?

Regardless of price, all sunglasses sold in Australia must meet the Australian standard AS/NZ 1067:2003. Check the swing tag before purchase. For best protection, choose sunglasses labelled category 2, 3 or 4 or EPF 10.

If swimwear doesn't have a UPF rating, does it still provide sun protection?

A swing tag with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) spells out how much protection is provided by the fabric. A garment without a UPF number is not necessarily less protective, but indicates that the material has not been tested. A UPF number does however take away the guesswork.

I used lots of sunscreen. How come I still got burnt?

There's more to sun protection than sunscreen. No sunscreen provides complete protection against UV radiation. Always use sunscreen together with shade, sun protective clothing, hats and sunglasses. Sunscreen also needs to be carefully applied and reapplied: apply it liberally, to dry skin, 20 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

Don't I need to get some sun for vitamin D?

Most Australians make enough vitamin D from UV exposure received during typical day-to-day activities. There is a limit to the amount of vitamin D that can be made at any one time. After this limit is reached, often in less than 20 minutes, staying out unprotected for extended periods of time will not result in higher vitamin D levels. Most Australians do not need to deliberately seek sun exposure to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. Sensible sun protection does not put people at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Do baseball caps provide good sun protection?

A good sun protective hat shades your eyes, scalp, face, neck and ears. Baseball caps are not recommended – they shade your eyes, scalp and forehead only. To protect against UV reflected from surfaces, it is important to also use sunscreen and sunglasses.