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Sun Safety
Tips for preventing skin cancer and sun damage |
- Reduce exposure during the sun's peak hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you must be in the sun, make sure you have the proper gear: protective clothing, sunglasses, broad-brim hat, and broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours to maintain protection. And always reapply after being in the water, even if the bottle says "waterproof."
- Use only broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. SPF only tells you how much protection from UVB (the "burning" rays) the product provides. For protection against UVA (the "aging" rays), look for sunscreen that contains at least 5 percent Zinc Oxide.
- UVA rays are constant throughout the year. Sunscreen should be worn when it's cloudy and in every season.
- Visit your dermatologist once a year for a complete body screening.
- If the fair complexion look isn't for you, get a tan the healthy way - with a self-tanner. Many allow you to build a tan according to how dark you want to be. Try this: After you shower, apply a gradual self-tanner. A few minutes later, apply sunscreen The antioxidant-enriched and superior moisturizing properties of sunscreen will ensure even application of the tanner and - even better - you've accomplished the only true way to get a healthy tan.
Skin Cancer Facts
- The skin is our largest organ. Think about that. Cancer in any form is scary, but if you could keep it from invading your body's largest organ, why wouldn't you?
- More than 90 percent of skin cancer cases are caused by sun exposure. That means you can prevent it. And no, you don't have to stay out of the sun to be safe. You just have to protect yourself.
- More than 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States.
- One in five Americans and one in three Caucasians will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
- Nationally, there are more new cases of skin cancer each year than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon.
- More than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, yet fewer than 33 percent of adults, adolescents, and children routinely use sun protection.
- The incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is rising faster than that of any other cancer. There are now nearly 8,000 melanoma deaths every year.
- One person dies every hour from skin cancer, primarily melanoma.
- By 2010, melanoma is projected to rise to one in 50 Americans.
- Skin cancer is the No. 1 cancer in men 50 and older, ahead of prostate, lung and colon cancer.
- Middle-aged and older men have the poorest track record for performing monthly skin self exams or regularly visiting a dermatologist. They are the least likely individuals to detect melanoma in its early stages.
- In the past 30 years, skin cancer has tripled in women younger than 40.
- Melanoma is the second most common cancer in women aged 20-29.
- Regular sun protection throughout childhood can reduce the risk of skin cancer by 80 percent.
- It is estimated that 2.3 million teens visit a tanning salon at least once a year.
- In the past 20 years there has been more than a 100 percent increase in the cases of pediatric melanoma.
- Less than half of all teenagers use sunscreen.
Information courtesy of The Skin Cancer Foundation, New York, NY
Why wear sunscreen?
Protection from the sun is the single most effective means to maintaining young looking, healthy skin. And don't forget tanning beds. Read this article about the harmful effects of tanning indoors.
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