About Skin Care
on Holidays in New Zealand

The media is full with warnings about the growing ozone hole above New Zealand and Australia. Ozone as a natural UV ray filter is weakened.

Its impact is therefore directly related to your holidays in New Zealand. Learn about skin care and avoid being part of the growing number of people with skin damaged by the sun.

Behave SunSmart that your West Auckland holidays will stay in good memory.

Wait that's not all, the Waitakere Ranges are home to activities like hiking, orienteering, climbing and numerous other fun activities.

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Do You Need To Know About Skin Care?

A personal experience taught me this rather painfully not even on our West Auckland holidays.

Last summer I happily enjoyed a chat on the phone outside in the sun on a cloudless day. An activity that doesn't imply thoughts about skin care usually.

It took only minutes the result didn't. 'Just' answering the phone for about twenty minutes was enough for a burning outcome that took days to heal with unpredictable long term effects. Show more respect about skin care than I did.

From October to March on some permanent companions are essential on your holidays in New Zealand. These are a brimmed hat, sun block SPF 30+ and UV protecting sunglasses.

Temperatures and wind often mislead on West Auckland holidays. On the long stretched coastlines the wind can give a cooler impression so that the sun and her strong UV rays are forgotten.

The sun's high is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is independent of the actual temperature. Without shielding clouds the sun's power is even greater. Very light skin and olive coloured skin are affected in the same way by UV rays.

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Be SunSmart – Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap

The really good news is skin cancer is preventable. So one of the most important things you can do is to practice SunSmart behaviour while playing sport or enjoying the outdoors.

How Can You Be SunSmart?

Slip into a shirt – and slip into some shade, especially between 11am and 4pm when the ultraviolet rays are most fierce.

Slop on some sunscreen before going outdoors.

• Put sunscreen on any skin not covered by clothes.
• Choose a sunscreen that meets the Australian and New Zealand Standard.
• Use an SPF30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen. Wipe it on thickly at least 15 minutes before going outdoors.
• Reapply: do this 15 minutes after the first application to ensure complete coverage, and also after physical activity, swimming or towel drying.
• Sunscreen should not be used as a means of staying out of the sun longer, but as a way to reduce the risk of sun damage to the skin when exposure to the summer sun is unavoidable.

Slap on a hat with a brim or a cap with flaps. More people get burned on the face and neck than any other part of the body, so a good hat is important. When looking for one be aware that see through hats look good but tiny holes expose head and face to the sun none the less. So a hat with a closed surface is preferable.

Wrap on a pair of sunglasses. Choose close fitting, wrap-around glasses that meet the Australian Standard AS1067

Here are examples of especially designed adult swim suits, and child swim wear to protect the skin of you and your family while having fun at the beach.

Many Kiwis male and female just wear a rash top and board shorts. Some always feel cold and choose a wet suit.



Health Sponsorship Council (HSC)

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