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Background/Objectives To assess the sun-protection practices of undergraduates at the Australian National University. Methods We sent emails with links to the questionnaire on the use of five sun-protection practices in the last fortnight of the summer to 3341 randomly selected students aged 18–24 years in this cross-sectional study. The response rate was 19% and 507 students met the inclusion criteria. Results The sample consisted of 338 female and 169 male students with a mean age of 20.5 years (SD ± 1.9). Any method of sun protection was used always or often by 32% of respondents. The commonest method used was shade (58%) while the least common was wearing a hat (8%). Domestic students (44%) used sunglasses more than the international students (23%, P

Facial skin resurfacing is now possible using shortpulse, high-energy carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) lasers. The laser utilized in this particular paper is the Ultrapulse CO 2 laser. The Ultrapulse laser represents the first CO 2 laser able to vaporize tissue in a single pulse with the use of a large spot size. This laser utilizes the principles of selective photothermolysis. The high-power pulses are completed in less than the thermal relaxation time of skin, estimated to be less than 1 millisecond. This translates into rapid vaporization of tissue with little heat conduction to surrounding tissues. It also should allow a reproducibility of results between practitioners with set parameters not possible with previous CO 2 lasers. Clinically, this laser is useful for the removal of skin lesions, and the resurfacing of areas of sun damage, wrinkles and scars. The immediate haemostasis and excellent visibility allows for precise vaporization of abnormal tissue. Rapid and pain-free wound healing is usual. The complication rate would appear to compare very favourably with dermabrasion and chemical peeling techniques.

Summary In a restrospective study of 3,128 patients with primary melanoma, 90 were found to have more than one primary lesion, an incidence of 2.9%. Wherever possible, comparisons were made between single and multiple primary lesion patients with reference to age. Sex, racial background, skin, hair, eye colouring, distribution and characteristics of the primary melanoma lesions. Patients with one melanoma had a greater risk of developing another and their skin appeared to be more susceptible to sun damage. Patients with multiple abnormal pigmented naevi also had an increased risk of developing a second primary melanoma. Having one primary lesion tended to alert both patient and doctor and resulted in earlier diagnosis of the second lesion. Although these patients developed multiple melanomas, their prognosis was more favourable than in patients with a single primary melanoma.