Slip, Slop, Slap Seek and Slide in Australia and where to go next

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In Australia, 95% of melanomas and 99% of non-melanoma skin cancers are attributed to overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. This review examined the last 40 years of sun protection policies and achievements in Australia and suggested the need for further action. The cancer prevention program started in 1981 with mass-media campaigns featuring the Slip, Slop, Slap message and an evidence based SunSmart program. Australian sun protection policy has evolved over the years and initiatives like taking the GST tax off sunblock and early childhood sun protection programs have been introduced. However, in Australia skin cancer remains the most common type of cancer and the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer is greater than all other cancer types combined. The authors state that sun protection policy makers have become complacent and more work needs to be done.  They suggest that future sun protection policies should focus on a comprehensive media campaign, robust data collection and implementing regulatory measures to safeguard children. The review concluded that these measures offer the best opportunity to consolidate the current sun protection programs and protect future generations from preventable skin cancer. 

Forty years of Slip! Slop! Slap! A call to action on skin cancer prevention for Australia

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Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. The major cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. However, UV induced skin cancer is almost entirely preventable. It is important that all Australians are aware of the damages of UV exposure from the sun and high-profile awareness campaigns have been the backbone of how Australians have been informed of this danger for the last 40 years. 

One of the best sources of information on sun protection and skin cancer is the Cancer Council website. The Cancer Council provides information of skin cancer causes, prevention, diagnosis, screening, and early detection. The major sun protection messaging that both ARPANSA and Cancer Council still promote is the Slip, Slop, Slap Seek and Slide as it can provide a high level of UV protection. However, it is still good to be out of the sun in the middle of the day when the UV is at its peak. 

ARPANSA operates UV monitors that provide real time data on UV levels for cities across Australia. These monitors make up the ARPANSA UV Network and this information can been found on the ARPANSA Ultraviolet Radiation Index webpage. This UV data is also collected and displayed by news organisations and can be found on the Cancer Council website. More information on UV protection can be found on the ARPANSA Sun Protection factsheet.