Skin cancer advocates are urging people not to fall for common sun safety myths, despite La Nina bringing cooler conditions this season.
The La Nina weather system is expected to take some of the sting out of summer, but the Cancer Council is urging people not to believe the myth that the risk of skin cancer has also been lowered.
Chief among these is that you are at less risk of sun damage on a cooler or cloudy day, which Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillan said was completely false. She said they were concerned that with La Nina bringing a potentially cooler, wetter summer this season, some people might not take the precautions they might have taken if the weather was hotter and sunnier.
“By the time it hits 8am on a normal summer day the UV index is above 3, and it will easily get into the Extreme range by the middle of the day.”Cancer Council has debunked a list of 10 common sun protection myths as part of its annual summer campaign to encourage greater skin protection in the summer months.
“It’s a bit like how old wive’s tales endure over the years, people hear things through their friends or through ‘Dr Google’ and it’s not always accurate,” she said.