The Burrow
Sep 19, 2024
As the summer months approach, many of us can’t wait to enjoy the beautiful beaches on our doorstep, or jet away to somewhere further afield – whether it’s to the tranquil seas of Asia, or the Mediterranean shores in Europe.
Whilst curling up on a sun lounger with a good book sounds like heaven, it’s important we’re all taking extra precautions to care for our skin to ensure we don’t get sunburnt in the short term – and cause lasting damage in the longer run.
With that in mind, the health experts at Compare the Market wanted to uncover the places where you’re most likely to suffer from skin damage caused by the sun, so we analysed average UV indexes, average elevation levels, and the number of skin cancer deaths per 100,000 people across a range of cities.
So, read on to find out our results, and make sure you take a look at our tips on how to avoid getting sunburn in the first place.
With Australia and Europe featuring heavily in the top 10, you can still enjoy the best summer holidays here – just make sure you’re protecting your skin while doing so.
Canberra comes in first place as the city you’re most likely to suffer from sun damaged skin, with the joint highest skin cancer deaths per 100,000 people (4.76), as well as the second highest average elevation, at 638m.
Heading to the coast may be one of the best ways to enjoy the sun, with beaches a two-hour drive away, but you could also spend the day at Lake George, which is 40 kilometres from the city – just make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen, and stay in the shade between 11am-3pm.
Sydney is the city that has the second highest risk of sun damage, with the joint highest skin cancer death rates per 100,000 people (4.76), and the second highest average UV index (7.1).
If you want to enjoy the sun safely, head to the area of Manly, which boasts more than 20 beaches and bays, or the world-famous Bondi, with its chic coffee shops and bars lining the shores.
Australia dominates our sun damage hotspot index, with Perth in third place, also with the joint highest skin cancer deaths per 100,000 people, as well as the highest average UV index (7.3).
Perth is renowned for its breathtaking beaches, so you can still make the most of the good weather by heading to the likes of Coogee Beach or Scarborough Beach – just make sure you keep your skin protected.
In fourth place for sun damaged skin is Ljubljana, which has placed highest in Europe, with the sixth highest average elevation levels, of 355m, as well as the third highest skin cancer deaths, at 3.86.
Ljubljana may be landlocked, but you can still enjoy sunny days safely – shade under the trees of Tivoli Park or Park Spica, or drive an hour north to Lake Bled where you can hike and canoe.
Melbourne rounds off our top five sun damage hotspots, with the joint highest skin cancer deaths per 100,000 people. The weather here tends to not be as warm as other Australian cities, but it’s important to remember you should wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s overcast, as harmful UV rays can still penetrate through clouds, which can cause damage to your skin.
Madrid comes in sixth place, with the highest average elevation (671m), and the joint seventh highest average UV index (5.3). When the weather gets warmer and you want to spend time outdoors, visit El Retiro Park, where you can rent a rowboat on the lake; or the sprawling Casa de Camp, where you can sit under the shade of a tree with a good book.
Zurich comes in seventh place as a sun damage hotspot, with the fourth highest average elevation, at 499m. With lots of amazing ski resorts just an hour away from the city, don’t let the snow fool you – you should still be sun-screened up to avoid skin damage, as the snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation.
In eighth place for sun damage is Geneva, with the fifth highest levels of average elevation, at 404m. Similarly to Zurich, Geneva is within close proximity of some of Europe’s best ski resorts, so it’s important you wear sunscreen even when skiing. If you prefer to stay in the city, when the weather’s nice, head to Lake Geneva, where you can take a boat or enjoy a scenic walk.
With the fourth highest average UV index, at 6.3, Nicosia comes in ninth place on our sun damage index. If you like to be outside when the weather is nice, then pack your sunscreen, sunglasses and a big hat, and head to Nicosia Municipal Park, where you can sit by the many small ponds and fountains, or head over there in the evening to watch the sun set.
Rounding off our top 10 sun damage hotspots is Limassol, with the third highest average UV index on our list, at 6.6. Situated on Cyprus’ southern coast, there are lots of beaches just waiting to be discovered – Pissouri Beach is quiet, with not many tourists aware of its location, making it a great option for a peaceful walk; or Dasoudi Beach, with its crystal-clear waters perfect for a swim.
While the top 10 sun damage hotspots are split between Australia and Europe, if you look at the top 20, more European cities make the list.
It’s not just typically warm places that see sun damage, with Munich in 11th place, Oslo in 13th, and Prague in 14th. Turin, Vienna, Budapest, Lyon and Rome all also make it into the top 20, highlighting how important it is to stay out of the sun during its strongest hours, and slather on the sunscreen to keep your skin protected, no matter where you are in the world.
Los Angeles scores highest in the USA, coming in 12th place, followed by Houston in 19th place, and Chicago in 29th.
Prevention is better than cure, so if you’re spending time out in the sun, make sure you keep your skin protected with these three tips.
The sun is at its strongest during the hours of 11am-3pm, so try and stay out of it during this time to shield your skin. That could mean moving your sun lounger into the shade while you’re having a siesta, or if you’re on a city break, stopping for lunch, and heading inside to enjoy some indoor attractions.
There are tons of different sunscreens out there, but some offer more protection than others. Look for SPF 50, and one that protects you from UV rays, with UVB rays responsible for burning your skin, and UVA rays causing premature ageing and skin cancer. Make sure you’re reapplying your sunscreen several times throughout the day, and if you’ve been in the pool or sea, reapply it as soon as you’ve dried off.
Long-sleeved tops and trousers of lightweight cotton and linen will help to protect your skin further from the sun, without feeling too heavy. You should also wear a hat to protect your scalp (which can be an easy place to burn), as well as sunglasses, to protect your eyes.
Steven Spicer, Executive General Manager of Health Insurance at Compare the Market AU states: “As soon as the sun comes out, it can often feel like your mood has lifted, and you want to make the most of the good weather – whether that means sunbathing, swimming, going for a long walk, or playing sports. But whilst the sun can be beneficial for our moods, it’s extremely important you take precautions for your skin to avoid long-lasting damage in the future.”
“Another thing you can do to protect your health – whether it’s your skin, or other potential conditions – is to take out health insurance. Some policies will pay a benefit towards Cancer Council UV protection products or various skin checks, which can go a long way towards protecting your skin and identifying problematic spots before they become too serious.
“Depending on your level of cover, a private hospital policy can also be useful in the unfortunate event you develop skin cancer. In such a case, your policy can help pay towards private inpatient treatment, as well as affording you your choice of available doctor and allowing you to avoid public waiting lists for various treatments.
“Just keep in mind that you will need to serve any relevant waiting periods before claiming on your policy, so it is a good idea to take out cover sooner rather than later.”
Sources:
Average UV Index – https://www.weather-atlas.com/
Skin Cancer Rate – https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/skin-cancers/by-country/
Average Elevation – https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/
Methodology:
This dataset ranks 50 cities, based on their tendency to cause sun damage to skin. To do this, 3 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score of between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then summed, to give each location a total score out of 3. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
All data is correct as of 31/07/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.