What is your name?
Hi, my name is Katie.
Describe yourself in 3 to 5 words.
Happy, thoughtful, individual.
What is your attitude towards sun protection today?
Sun protection for me is a way of life so I can still participate in all of the things that I enjoy in this world. I have always placed a high priority on protecting my skin from the sun. This has involved making small and achievable adjustments to my daily life, both in terms of the clothing that I wear and the times of day that I choose to pursue outdoor activities. Examples include visiting the beach early in the morning or being mindful to wear a hat when going outside.
I am very proactive in regularly applying sun cream and taking other precautions such as choosing to wear clothing that covers up most of my skin. I know that being conscious of this protection will help ensure that I can live a healthy life into the future.
I also know that I have a family history of skin cancer and have learnt lessons from previous family generations that have grown up under the same Australian sun but who did not have access to the research, education and sun protection products available today. Like many of my ancestors, my fair skin type is a significant risk factor, so there is extra motivation for me to take good care of my skin whilst I am young to prevent the likelihood of developing skin cancer.
I am thrilled that there is an Australian company like Solbari that supplies high quality sun protection clothing that is both functional and affordable.
What would you tell your 16 year old self about sun protection?
I'm proud of you for not giving in to peer pressure or trying to be somebody that you can't be for the sake of fitting in with adolescent societal norms. Although sun protection is sometimes teased or bullied, know that protecting your skin now will keep it healthy and youthful in the years to come.
Listen and keep an open mind when your family provides you with advice or sun protection products because they want to help you develop healthy habits for when you're in the sun. This will also help you to develop your own autonomy and initiative with your sun protection into the future.
There should be plenty of motivation for you to minimise the risk of developing skin cancer. I am sure that you would also like to prevent signs of premature ageing of the skin such as sun spots or wrinkles. These conditions are preventable because you can control how much or little they can impact on your life through the sun protection choices that you make.
Thank you Katie for helping raise awareness for skin cancer, melanoma and skin conditions, and sharing your story with us and our Solbari Community.