Frequently Asked Questions

Skin cancer occurs when skin cells are damaged. This is commonly from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Between 95 and 99% of skin cancers in Australia are caused by exposure to the sun.

There are three main types of skin cancer.

• Melanoma - the most agressive & dangerous type
• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Both Basal and Squamous type are non melanoma cancers.

UVR is a form of radiation given out by the sun. Unlike other forms of solar radiation, such as light and heat, UVR cannot be seen or felt.

There are three types of UVR

• UVA (longer wavelength) causes premature aging and wrinkling of the skin and is a cause of skin cancer
• UVB (medium wavelength) is more dangerous than UVA and is the major cause of skin cancers, sunburning and cataracts
• UVC (shorter wavelength) is extremely dangerous but does not reach the earth's surface due to absorption in the atmosphere

As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, all the UVC and 90% of the UVB is absorbed by ozone. Therefore, the UVR that reaches the ground is mostly UVA, with some UVB. UVR is also given out by solaria and by other artificial sources such as arc welders and fluorescent, mercury vapour, metal halide and quartz halogen lamps.

Exposure to UVR can cause not only sunburn but also lasting damage to skin and eyes. This may result in premature skin ageing, skin cancer and eye disorders such as cataracts, pterygium and cancer of the conjunctiva and eyelid. The effects of UVR are cumulative, so damage builds up even without burning.

The UV index is published on the Bureau of Meteorology.

The UV Index provides useful information that can help you plan outdoor activities in ways that minimise exposure to the sun's rays. The UV Alert, which is issued when the UV Index forecast reaches 3 or higher, shows the time of the day when it is essential to protect yourself.

As a general guide, we recommend annual skin checks and we believe full body checks are best to enable skin cancers in their early stages to be identified and treated.