By DR VANESSA LAPINER
Blessed with generally warm weather and a majority of sunny days, living in Cape Town is certainly very pleasant. But with the warmth of the sun comes a greater risk of skin cancers. Since skin cancer ranks high among the various types of cancer affecting South Africans, we need to take the risk seriously and educate ourselves about how to limit the threat of suffering from this potentially mortal disease.
It’s particularly important right now, as we head into summer. The summer sun here is more intense than in many other places, such as in Europe, since we are positioned geographically in a high UV-index latitude. Add to this the fact we are closer to the ozone hole over the Antarctic, and it becomes clear that we are particularly vulnerable. In addition, behaviour plays a role, too: we enjoy outdoor activities, but there isn’t a strong culture in our society of taking the necessary precautions, such as using sun protection measures.
As Dr Vanessa Lapiner, a specialist dermatologist based in Cape Town, points out, “Melanoma is ranked the 4th most prevalent cancer among men in our country, with women also at risk since this form of cancer is listed as the 5th most common of all the cancers.”
Vanessa further points out that any form of cancer of the skin carries a very real threat to us. “While a malignant melanoma is what both the dermatologist and the patient most fear because of the risk of death, non-melanoma skin cancers can also be devastating since they may result in disfiguring surgeries,” she explains.
How the sun can harm us
The sun contains ultraviolet (UV) rays, which damage a person’s DNA – similar to the potential damage to the DNA caused by
an X-ray. Damage occurs in three ways:
Ageing: The DNA is affected so that a person who has had lots of exposure to the sun will look older than if the damage hadn’t occurred. Our skins become more prone to wrinkling and sagging, and we develop ‘liver spots’ on our faces and hands.
Burning: Vanessa makes the point that, “A sunburn is not just a nuisance. It’s a warning that you’ve exposed your skin to enough UV to cause DNA damage, and that puts you at greater risk of skin cancer. Even one bad case of sunburn in childhood can result in a melanoma in later life.”
Cancer: South Africans are exposed to a great deal of sunlight, so even without sunburn, our skin can be at risk. Just being outside in the garden or at a school without any protection against UV rays – even for a short period – may result in a huge dose of UV. And, without a doubt, says Vanessa, tanning is completely out.
Precautions
Vanessa highlights various measures that we should know about that can help to reduce the negative impact of exposure to
the sun. These include:
● Wearing a wide-brimmed hat when you’re outside
● Putting on sun-protective clothing
● Applying sunscreen: make sure you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF of 30 or more, and apply it regularly during the time you are out in the sun
● Moving into the shade, especially when the sun is at its strongest (from 10am to 3pm). However, the shade may not be adequate to give full protection if it’s from an umbrella and you have not put on any sunscreen or if it’s from a tree
● Taking supplements, which is not a measure many people know about. Supplements augment the efficacy of the sunscreen, and should be taken before exposure to the sun and again following three hours or more in the sun. Vanessa has developed supplement products, known as Neo-genes Skin Pods, which are produced under her Root4 brand.
So, have a wonderful summer holiday season – but make sure it’s a wonderful time for your skin too!
Tips we may all benefit from:
If you’ve got a light skin colour, you’re more at risk, so be particularly conscious of the risk and the precautions that should
be taken.
If a child has a bad sunburn, the risk of melanoma later in life doubles. As a parent, you should educate your children about good sunscreen habits and ensure that they wear UPF clothing and hats.
If you’re a sportsperson, be particularly careful because you’re bound to be outside in the sun repeatedly. Any sport that involves being in water increases the risk because water surfaces reflect up to 10% of UV radiation. Protective swimwear and polarised sunglasses are recommended.
Men should be aware that thinning hair may result in greater sun exposure to the scalp.
WATCH Dr Vanessa Lapiner talk about sunscreen here.
• Read the December 2024 / January 2025 issue in magazine format here.
• To advertise in the Cape Jewish Chronicle and on this website – kindly contact Lynette Roodt on 021 464 6736 or email advertising@ctjc.co.za. For more information and advertising rate card click here.
• Email us to sign up for our newsletter and never miss another issue.
• Please support the Cape Jewish Chronicle with a voluntary Subscription for 2024. For payment info click here.
• Visit our Portal to the Jewish Community to see a list of Jewish organisations in Cape Town with links to their websites.
Follow the Cape Jewish Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
