Don't Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin

What's really under your skin?

Look out for a new campaign this summer that’s going to get right under your  skin. As  part of the ‘Don’t let the sun get under your skin’ campaign, special ultraviolet  (UV) cameras will be at popular holiday spots around the country to show the skin damage that can’t be seen by the naked eye.

And you’ll see just how easy it is to protect your skin this summer. To find out more, join www.facebook.com/underyourskinNZ – and be in to win!

Everyone knows sunburn isn’t cool. It’s painful, ugly, stops you doing the things you like, damages your skin and can lead to skin cancer. Getting a tan is risky too. It’s a sign of damaged skin and speeds up the ageing process, making you look older, sooner. Who wants that?

It’s easy to make sure the sun doesn’t get under your skin this summer, but don’t just rely on sunscreen.

Pop on a hat, SPF30+ sunscreen, sunnies and a long-sleeved shirt when you head out. That way you’ll be prepared – whether you end up at the beach, playing sport, or round the pool.

And watch out for cool and cloudy days too, because it’s not the sun’s heat that burns, but UV radiation – and you can’t see that.

Everyone burns no matter what your skin type, so look after your mates and remind them to be safe in the sun too. That way everyone gets to enjoy summer while still looking good.

For more information: www.facebook.com/underyourskinNZ or contact Laurianne Reinsborough, SunSmart Manager, HSC on 04 472 5777 or 0220 892 854.

Here is some information that will keep you safe in the sun : Under Your Skin Myth Busters

Resources

Don't Let the Sun Get Under Your Skin images (PDF 2.7 MB)

Banner advert

Don't Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin post-cards (PDF 1.64MB)

New adolescent campaign 'Don't Let the Sun Get Under Your Skin'

Teenagers are a challenging age group to target with most social marketing messages, and SunSmart messages are no exception. The long-lasting and life-threatening effects of too much sun exposure usually come later in life, so most teenagers don’t see preventing sun damage as relevant to their lives now. Also, many teenagers still see having a “good tan” as attractive and desirable.

The HSC is working on a new project that is based on work undertaken by the Centre for Health Initiatives (CHI), University of Wollongong, Australia. The CHI focuses on health research across a number of areas, with cancer prevention being just one. Its findings are aimed at making a difference to the health and well being of Australians through social marketing and community engagement.

The CHI’s adolescent education programme came about because, despite 25 years of mass media and programmes aimed at sun protective behaviours in Australia, fewer and fewer Australian adolescents were being sun smart. During the summer of 2009/10, CHI run a programme that used messages relevant to teenagers to improve the sun protection behaviours of 15 to 16-year-olds in particular. The programme reflected the campaign’s tagline, "Don’t let the sun get under your skin", and used UV cameras to show young people what invisible skin damage they had already developed during their short lives.

In July 2011 the HSC consumer tested this campaign ('Don’t Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin'), with teenagers, along with three other campaigns. It was deemed the most effective campaign to use in New Zealand. The HSC is launching its own version of this programme in January 2012.

International campaigns

Indoor Tanning 'Enjoy the Skin You're In' Social Media Campaign

Ottawa Public Health (OPH), in collaboration with Cancer Care Ontario, Canadian Cancer Society, Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit, and Renfrew County and District Health Unit launched a social media campaign that encourages youth to feel good about the natural colour of their skin.

The Enjoy the Skin You're In campaign aims to raise awareness about the risks of using indoor tanning equipment, such as: damaging your appearance and causing premature wrinkling, skin cancer, eye damage such as cataracts and eye cancer.

The campaign is using social media in the following ways: a Facebook page (Facebook.com/YourSkin) serves as a portal to information about indoor tanning and their health, a social media application (IndoorTanMe.com) allows users to see what they may look like after over-exposure to tanning beds.

Videos:
Youtube.com/enjoytheskin

Application : download your picture to see the effects of indoor tanning
IndoorTanMe.com