Rashie, Wetsuits and Rash Vests

SUN PROTECTION USING RASH VESTS

(RASHIE) & UV PROTECTION CLOTHING

About Skin Cancer

There are three forms of skin cancer, and most are relative to the amount of sunlight to which we are exposed.

The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma, because it can spread to other parts of the body. However, if is detected soon after if first develops, it is curable by simple surgical excision. Each year, over 5000 cases of melanoma are reported in Australia alone and up to 1000 Australians will die of this disease.

The most common form of skin cancer in Australia is basal cell carcinoma, of which 125,000 new cases are reported each year. This very rarely spreads to other organs but if left undetected, will continue to grow, usually slowly, and may invade the underlying tissues. Again, this tumour is curable by surgery or radiotherapy.

The third type of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma which often develops from a solar keratosis or sunspot. If not treated early, these may spread to other parts of the body, but are again curable before that occurs by surgery or radiotherapy. 20,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma are reported annually.
Much sunlight damage starts early in life - so hats, shirts, a rash shirt, sunglasses, shade and sunscreens are essential protection for children and young adults. People with sun-sensitive skin - those who burn and freckle easily - are more likely to get all forms of skin cancer, and must be more careful to check their skin regularly.    

Mild UV dose reduces immune by 40%

Researchers at the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Institute (MASCRI) at Australia's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney have recently reported the results of a new study examining whether sunscreens offer protection against the harmful effects of ultra violet (UV) radiation on the skin's immune system.

It has been known for more than 20 years that UV radiation can suppress the function of the skin's immune cells , by inactivating and depleting Langerhan's cells in the skin, and although these immune cells appear to recover their function two to four weeks after the UV exposure, repeated exposures can result in chronic immunosuppression. The immune system is an important line of defence against melanoma and other skin cancers and it is believed that UV immunosuppression may result in an increased risk of these skin cancers. Dr. Diana Damian, Dr. Gary Halliday and Professor Ross Barneston have developed a simple and effective method for measuring immune responses in the skin of human subjects.

The study found that even relatively small doses of ultraviolet radiation caused significant immunosuppression in the skin of volunteers. Using less UV than is needed to cause mild sunburn, once daily for five days, the skin's immune responses were reduced by an average of 40%. Interestingly, individuals with darker skin were just as easily immunosuppressed as those with very pale skin.

Sunburn a risk to Immunity

"Ultraviolet radiation exposures here (in Australia) are higher than almost anywhere else in the world, due to our climate, our latitude and the ongoing depletion of the ozone layer."

The "Journal of the American Medical Association" warns that, as well as causing skin cancer and cataracts, even a slight case of sunburn suppresses immune-system protection against a variety of infectious diseases.

These include tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, measles, chicken pox, herpes and fungal diseases.

There are also fears that vaccination programs could be compromised.

Research shows that too much ultra violet radiation changes the behaviour of the immune cells which operate directly under the skin layer.

Immune cells which normally would repel infections coming in contact with the skin, slow their actions which makes it easier for an infection to become established.

UV Radiation attacking our young

Birthdays are a special time, especially for children. Each one is significant for many different reasons but I wonder how many people realise that by the time a child reaches adolescence, nine out of every 10 will have had UV-related skin damage.

Childhood is the critical period during which UV Radiation can do the most damage. Often the signs won't appear till later in life and then they may be anything from pigmentation through to skin cancer, cataracts through to a suppressed immune system. You may even develop malignant melanoma and it might be sooner rather than later.

It only takes a few minutes for a child's skin to burn and that damage is permanent and cumulative. If you think of exposure to UV Radiation as beginning as an empty glass - even a drip at a time, the glass will eventually fill up. If it overflows than you've got a problem.

It has been found that adequate protection (appropriate clothing, such as a hat and a rashvest, and the use of sunscreen) during childhood can reduce the risks of developing problems later in life by up to 78%. Protection will filter UV rays and help limit the total exposure. It's like making sure the glass never fills up.

When deciding on a fabric it is important to remember that the closeness of the weave is the crucial factor. The colour or weight of a fabric is not necessarily an indicator of greater protection. We recommend choosing a garment that is SPF rated with a minimum SPF 30+. Our rashies or rash vests / guards provide a level of sun protection of over PDF 50+.