Welcome to Emilys Foundation

How much VITAMIN D do I need?

Vitamin D Tracker

The amount of UV exposure necessary to keep vitamin D levels at their optimum is contingent on:

• The season — is it spring, summer, winter or autumn?
• Where you live — are you in Hobart, Melbourne or in sunny Queensland?
• What kind of skin you have — do you start to fry after just a few minutes or are you dark-skinned?
• Your unique circumstance — e.g. have you had skin cancer before?

If you can hitch up your trousers and expose those lily white legs, roll up your sleeves and spend just a few minutes a day in the sunshine — avoiding between the hours of 10 am and 3pm — it should help to boost your vitamin D levels. However, if you are dark-skinned you may find you need at least triple the amount of sunshine. More information.

Sun Effects Booth App

This app shows how your current behaviour in the sun can damage your face in the future. By downloading the app, you will see the potential aging and damage done to your skin. Read more

EYE DAMAGE FROM THE SUN

Long term exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause cataracts, a clouding in the lens of the eye which obscures vision as well as short-term eye damage such as snow-blindness if the UVR intensity is sufficiently high.

Melanoma of the eye is cancer that occurs in various parts of the eye.

Guidelines for purchasing Sunglasses

In addition to the AS/NZS 1067:2003 label several other markings may be found on sunglasses. Sunglasses labeled “EPF 10” (Eye Protection Factor rating 10) actually exceed the requirements of AS/NZS 1067. Sunglasses may also be labeled “Absorbs 100% UVR”.

Causes and risk factors of melanoma

Melanoma and other skin cancers generally develop because of too much exposure to UV radiation. Each time unprotected skin is exposed to the sun's UV radiation or other sources of UV radiation, such as solarium's, changes take place in the structure of the cells. Too much UV radiation causes the skin to become permanently damaged. The damage increases with each exposure. Repeated bouts of sunburn, particularly during childhood, greatly increase the chance of getting melanoma.

UNDERSTANDING SKIN CANCER    Solar Keratoses (Sunspots)

What are Sunspots?

Sunspots (solar keratoses, actinic keratoses) are premalignant skin lesions ie. may turn into skin cancer at a later time. They are caused by excessive long-term sun exposure. They are seen as relatively flat, scaly, and often red areas on sun-exposed skin. The sun exposure causing your sunspots may have occurred many years prior to their appearance. You don't need to have recent sun exposure to get sun spots!

Why do they need treatment?

While sunspots are not cancerous they can turn into skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). While the potential for a single sunspot to turn cancerous is low, the more you have the more likely you are to get skin cancer. Once skin cancer has arisen from a sunspot the lesion usually requires surgical excision.

How are they treated?

The treatment involves only superficial destructive procedures. The most common treatment is cryotherapy. This therapy involves liquid nitrogen freezing which results in destruction of the top layer of your skin - the epidermis. There are also some creams which are effective in removing sunspots.