Sun Damage - Skin Cancer Prevention
More than one million Americans will be diagnosed this year with a cancer that is almost totally preventable — skin cancer.
Skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S., is, for the most part, caused by too much exposure to the sun.
Most skin cancers are highly curable, but one form, called malignant melanoma, is much more serious and has increased more than 100% since 1973. Armed with a little information and common sense, you won’t have to be part of those statistics.
Skin Cancer Prevention Tip: Wear Sunscreen
Choose your sunscreen – Select one that protects you from both UV-A and UV-B rays. UV-B rays cause sunburns, but UV-A rays also increase the risk for skin cancer.
Use an SPF of at least 30 – SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.
Apply sunscreen – Put it on about 30 minutes before going into the sun and reapply often (swimming and perspiration will remove it).
Skin Cancer Prevention Tip: Plan Your Day
Stay indoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – In the southern United States, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are strongest between these times.
Never expose babies to direct sunlight – Shield them with protective clothing when out during the day. Sunscreens should not be applied to infants under six months of age.
Cover up – If you must be in the sun, cover up with clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Teach your children to apply sunscreen – Encourage them to apply sunscreen before they go out to play. Research shows that regular use of sunscreen during the first 18 years of life could reduce the lifetime incidence of skin cancer by 78%.
Skin Cancer Prevention Tip: Avoid Tanning Salons
Don’t go to tanning salons – Tanning beds produce the same UV-A radiation as the sun. No tan is a safe tan — it is a sign of skin damage. Map your Moles (Adobe PDF file; Download Adobe PDF Reader)
Remember, the fairer your skin, the higher your risk for skin cancer. If you freckle or burn in the sun, you are at highest risk. Still, people of all skin colors can develop skin cancer.
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