Understanding Sun Safety and Your Skin
Living With the Australian Sun
Living in Australia means you experience a lot of sunlight throughout your life. Sunlight feels pleasant and helps your body produce vitamin D, but too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages your skin cells. This damage builds up over time, leads to early ageing of the skin—such as wrinkles and sunspots—and increases your risk of skin cancers.
What UV Radiation Really Means
UV radiation is not the same as heat. You still receive UV exposure on cool, cloudy, or windy days. UV rays also bounce off water, sand, concrete, and snow, so your exposure increases even when you are not directly “sunbaking.” A tan develops because your skin reacts to UV exposure by producing more pigment to protect itself, and this response happens after UV has already caused some damage.
Why Sun Safety Matters Over Time
Sun safety focuses on reducing damage throughout your lifetime, not just avoiding one-off sunburn. Small amounts of repeated damage add up. Some skin types burn more easily than others, but all skin tones, including deeper skin tones, experience the effects of UV radiation.
Understanding Changes in Your Skin
Your skin is a living organ that responds to your environment. Over time, sun-related changes appear as rough or scaly patches, uneven colour, more freckles, tiny visible blood vessels, or areas that stay irritated. Moles also change as you age. Many changes are harmless, but noticing patterns and differences plays an important role in caring for your health.
How Skin Checks Help
Skin checks form part of preventive health care. You may need them depending on your personal or family history, your work or hobbies, and your skin type. Your GP explains what a skin check involves, whether you benefit from one, and which spots appear harmless or require closer review.
Sun Safety Beyond the Skin
Sun safety also includes your eyes and lips. UV radiation affects eye health and irritates the delicate skin on your lips. Treating sun protection as a whole-body habit supports your long-term health.
🩺 General Information Only
This article is general health information and does not replace personalised advice. If you have questions about your skin, moles, spots, or sun exposure, speak with your GP.