Irish 'ignoring' dangers of sun, says cancer society

People living in Ireland ignore the risk of developing skin cancer, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

At the unveiling of its 2005 SunSmart campaign today, the Irish Cancer Society revealed the results of a nationwide survey into skin care habits.

The survey showed that although 70 per cent know that the sun is the main cause of skin cancer, 74 per cent said they had experienced sun burn.

A total of 36 per cent of respondents said a tan was a sign of a healthy skin, however, according to the society, which points out that "tanned skin is damaged skin".

The survey also found that 34 per cent of respondents did not use any type of sunscreen. This figure rose to 56 per cent among members of the farming community.

The society said that 80 per cent - 90 per cent of all cases of skin cancer is caused by the UV rays of the sun and are therefore preventable.

According to the latest figures from the National Cancer Registry, there were 5,798 cases of skin cancer in Ireland in 2001. Overall there were 93 deaths from skin cancer in the same year.

Dr Gillian Murphy, Consultant Dermatologist at Beaumont Hospital, said "Despite yearly campaigns, judging from the results of this research we still have an immense amount of work to do in reaching out to the public and educating them on the risk of developing skin cancer and the need to be SunSmart."

"People need to understand that experiencing sunburn not only increases the risk of skin cancer but it also causes premature ageing and disfigurement," Dr Murphy added.

To be safe in the sun the Irish Cancer Society recommends the following tips: avoid being in the sun when it is at its strongest (11am - 3pm), wear t-shirts (with sleeves and collars) and long shorts made from closely woven fabric; wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect ears, nose and back of the neck; apply a high-protection sunscreen (at least SPF 15) 20 minutes before going outdoors; wear wraparound sunglasses to protect eyes; and keep babies out of the sun as much as possible