Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with over 13,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) expects this number to double by 2040.

 

We all know that over exposure to the sun and sunbeds can cause skin cancer. We all also know that wearing sun block can help prevent your risk of developing skin cancer. 

Sunblock is a necessity not a luxury! 

Here's how sunscreen works:

Sunscreen includes active ingredients that help prevent the sun’s UV radiation from reaching your skin. Here’s how the two types of sunscreen work for you:

 

Physical (mineral) sunscreen ingredients (including the minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) block and scatter the rays (like a shield) before they penetrate your skin.

 

Chemical sunscreen ingredients (like avobenzone and octisalate) absorb UV rays (like a sponge) before they can damage your skin.

 

I have red hair and very fair skin like many Irish people as do my children. We need a sunscreen of SPF 50 to be able to enjoy an average Irish summer.

As a family on a lower income I am fortunate to be in receipt of a medical card however the cost of suncream and keeping my family safe to ensure they stay protected from the harmful rays of the sun if not currently covered by the medical card. 

The cost of sunscreen varies from €4.95 at supermarkets such as Aldi or Lidl right up to €21.00 for brands such as Vichy or La Roche Posay. On average I use between 6-8 200ml bottles to keep my family protected throughout the year.

I'm sure I am not alone in this, meaning over the summer months my average bill on sunscreen is over €100 (as I have a child with sensitive skin). 

 

Whilst I cannot put a price on protecting my children the reality is the pharmaceutical companies can and they are raking in the profits on a product what I think quite frankly should be free and made available to all. It should never have to enter your mind that you cannot afford to buy sunblock this week, with a heatwave on the way. Unfortunately that's a reality for some families.

 

The fact is the one 1 in 2 of us will develop cancer in our lifetimes. Skin cancer is the highest form of cancer in Ireland, it doesn't have to be, make sunscreen more affordable and free to those who have a medical card for any reason, not just organ transplant recipients(as is Irelands current stance on the situation)!