Summer is here … Be Sun Smart
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer accounting for about half of all the cancers in the United States. According to the statistics of The American Cancer Society, 10,000 people die of skin cancer each year and 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer in their life time.
Skin cancer is dangerous because everyone is at risk for it, no matter what skin type they have. People in sunnier climates, like Florida, are at even greater risk due to their increased and prolonged exposure to the sun’s damaging rays. However, it should be noted that the sun is not the only cause of skin cancer. Tanning beds, once thought to be a safer alternative, have also been found to be just as dangerous as tanning outdoors. In fact, research has found that exposure to tanning beds prior to age 35 increases one’s risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent.
In a nutshell, exposure to UVA/UVB rays whether at the beach or in a tanning salon, add up day after day and not only increase the visible signs of aging, but increase your chances of developing skin cancer as well. Protection and education are the first lines of defense in the fight against skin cancer.
The American Cancer Society has designated May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month. It is the perfect time to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your families. You can continue to have fun in the sun provided you take a few extra precautions. Some “Sun Smart” safety tips include:
Tips for Being Sun Smart
• Generously apply water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. The best sunscreens are those that provide broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
• Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with ultraviolet protection when possible.
• Seek shade when possible, especially in the middle of the day (10a-4p). Practice the shadow rule and teach it to your children. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
• Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.
• Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.
• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet.
• Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
• Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable if caught early.
