On 9th and 10th April, we hosted our second annual ‘UCD Get Sun Smarter’ event in collaboration with the Charles Institute for Dermatology, Systems Biology Ireland and the Irish Cancer Society.
At the two-day sun awareness event, the Irish Skin Foundation provided students, staff and members of the public with guidance on how to stay safe in the sun and the dangers of occasional, intense, sun exposure, as well as information on other skin conditions. The Irish Cancer Society brought along a skin scanner/UV Light Box, which gave people visiting the stand an indication of the sun damage to their face. Systems Biology Ireland provided a microscopic demonstration of what skin cancer looks like up-close.
- Related: Learn how to Protect & Inspect
- Related: Melanoma Skin Cancer Infographic
- Related: Melanoma Leaflet
Sunscreen samples (kindly donated by Bioderma, Elave, Eucerin and La Roche Posay) were given out to visitors to the stands, along with Melanoma information leaflets and information on how to Protect and Inspect their skin.
On day two of the event Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Patrick Ormond gave an excellent talk on ‘Killer Tan: The Sun and Your Skin’.
The event garnered much media attention with notice of the activities printed in the Irish Times in advance, and radio interviews secured across national and regional radio stations about the importance of sun safety, whether at home or abroad this summer. National radio broadcaster, Today FM, attended the event to record interviews with Professor Desmond Tobin, Director, Charles Institute of Dermatology; David McMahon, CEO, Irish Skin Foundation; and capture the student reactions to the sun damage they had seen on their face from the Light Box.
As a result of the outstanding success of this event, we will be bringing ‘UCD Get Sun Smarter’ to this years’ UCD Festival, taking place on Saturday, 8th June. Over 16,000 festival goers are expected to attend on the day.
Click here for more information about the UCD Festival. We hope to see you there!
Remember, whether at home or abroad this summer, occasional, intense sun exposure and sunburn increases skin cancer risk. More about melanoma and skin cancer here.
We want everyone in Ireland to learn to Protect & Inspect their skin! Download our short guide, written with hospital-based dermatologists, to checking your skin.
Melanoma is on the rise in Ireland: see the facts in these info-graphics – Melanoma Skin Cancer and Solar UV Radiation.
