SunSmart Code

The SunSmart Code gives you four tips for protecting your skin to help you reduce your risk of skin cancer. Follow the SunSmart Code when outdoors, whether you are at home or abroad. The code includes covering up, seeking shade, use of sunglasses and sunscreen.

The SunSmart Code

1. Cover Up

   • Slip on protective clothing
     One of the simplest things you can do to protect your skin from UV rays is to cover it with clothes
     • Wear a shirt with a collar and sleeves
     • Choose clothes made of a close weave material that does not allow sun light through
        
   • Slap on a hat
     Making sure that it gives shade to the face, neck and ears. A baseball hat is not ideal as it does not give enough shade. Good examples are a bucket or legionnaire style hat.

2. Seek Shade

   • Especially between 11am and 3pm, when UV rays are at their strongest
   • Use a tree, a sun umbrella or other types of shade to protect yourself
   • Plan your day out so that you know you will be able to go into the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm. This may mean using natural shade or bring something with you, such as a big umbrella, to meet that need. 
      

3. Wear wrap-around sunglasses

   • The eyes can be damaged by UV rays and this damage can lead to a number of problems including cancer. For this reason it is important to protect your eyes from UV rays. This applies to children as well as adults. A few things to keep in mind about the sunglasses you choose:
     • Because UV rays tend to bounce around the sky as they hit water particles and dust in the air it is a good idea to choose wrap-around glasses. In this way you are protecting your eyes from UV rays that come from the side
     • Make sure that the sunglasses you choose give 100% UV protection. You will see a label or sticker on the glasses that says any of the following
        

4. Wear sunscreeen

   • We recommend that you use sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher and UVA protection.
      
   • Buying sunscreen:
     • Always check that sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays
     • UVA: Watch for the UVA logo on the bottle
     • UVB: SPF is about UVB protection. The higher the SPF the better. But using a higher SPF does not mean you can stay in the sun for longer. Also, no matter how high the SPF it does not block out all of the UVB rays.
     • Use water resistant sunscreen, especially if swimming or at water sports
       
        
   • Using sunscreen:
     • Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and UVA protection.
     • Put sunscreen on dry skin 30 minutes before going outside
     • Make sure to apply lots and reapply it every two hours 
     • Reapply more often if sweating, swimming or towel drying
     • Remember, those parts of the body that are not usually exposed to the sun will tend to burn more easily
     • Be sure to take extra care of your ears, neck, bald patch, hands and feet

Find out how SunSmart you need to be today, go to the UV Index