The damage from days like today can come later in life.
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For the next four days the Bureau of Meteorology has rated Launceston’s UV as extreme.
Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma diagnoses in the world, according to SunSmart.
Two in three Australians will also be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. In Tasmania, melanoma of the skin is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers alongside prostate, colorectal, breast and lung cancers.
There are often two main reasons for getting burnt.
First is deliberate sun-tanning.
People continue to sunbake in an effort to get a bronzed look. Olive or tanned skin is considered an attractive quality. Some people even continue to use baby oil or the like in an effort to achieve the desired look.
What many people forget is that what is considered attractive now will actually have the opposite effect in years to come.
Excessive sun exposure can lead to premature ageing. Up to 80 per cent of fine lines and wrinkles are the result of UV damage, according to SunSmart. The excess UV can also cause skin sagging, blotchiness and roughness.
The second reason for getting burnt is often accidental.
In the blink of an eye you discover your arms, legs or face are burnt.
Cancer Council Australia says the UV conditions that Launceston will be experiencing over the coming days can cause skin to burn within 15 minutes.
The Australian summer is all about the long days in the sun, enjoying the beach or waterways, playing sport or sitting outside at your local cafe.
But gone are the days of baking under the sun lathered in baby oil – or it should be.
Over the past couple of decades schools, sport organisations and work places have improved with sun safety. Most, if not all, primary school pupils can’t play out in the sun without wearing a sun-safe hat.
Despite this consistent messaging, now at a young age, there are still horror stories of people receiving third degree burns after a short-time in the sun.
The Cancer Council says without adequate precautions to protect yourself, you are nearly guaranteed to get burnt.
And while the burn may hurt for a day or two, the long term health damage could be fatal.