Practicing Sun Safety:
Are You Ready for the Summer?

May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, making it a good time to consider year-round habits and strategies to help prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, is estimated to have caused more than 9,700 deaths in the U.S. in 2017. Fortunately, both nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers are highly curable if detected and treated early. And taking steps to limit your exposure to UV radiation from the sun—as well as completely avoiding the use of tanning booths, tanning beds, and sunlamps—may help reduce your risk of skin cancer.

Here are some tips to practice year round to make outdoor time safer:

• Limit Your Time in the Midday Sun.
  Try to limit your outdoor activities when UV rays are the strongest—usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Plan outdoor activities for other times of the day when the sun’s rays are less intense.

• Seek Shade.
  Use the shade to protect yourself while outdoors, especially when UV rays are at their height. Be aware, however, that shade from trees, canopies, and umbrellas can’t provide complete protection.

Our What You Should Know About Skin Cancer Folding Display
provides the basic facts about skin cancer.

• Cover Up With Protective Clothing.
  Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or skirts to cover as much of your skin as possible. Cover up with dry, tightly-woven fabrics. Dark-colored clothing may offer additional protection. Some clothing is specifically manufactured and labeled as sun-protective.

• Wear a Protective Hat
  Select a hat made of tightly woven material with a wide brim that goes all the way around or a hat with a neck flap so that as much as possible of your face, ears, and the back of your neck are covered. Baseball caps and visors offer limited protection.

• Shield Your Eyes With Sunglasses.
  Exposure to UV rays can cause painful eye inflammation and increase the risk for cataracts. Choose large-framed, wraparound lenses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

Geared toward teens, our Sun Safety: Ban the Burn Folding Display
explains the importance of sun safety.

• Use Sunscreen.
  Put on a broad-spectrum sunscreen (one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays) before heading outdoors—even on cloudy days. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Higher numbers offer greater protection. Apply a generous amount, and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating. Don’t forget to protect your lips with a lip balm containing at least SPF 15.

• Don’t Use Tanning Beds, Tanning Booths, or Sunlamps.
  Tanning beds, tanning booths, and sunlamps expose you to the same damaging UVA and UVB rays as the sun. Using a tanning bed, tanning booth, or sunlamp is not a safe alternative to tanning in the sun. Whether from the sun or from a tanning bed, tanning booth, or sunlamp, a tan is a sign of skin damage.

• Check Your Skin Regularly.
  Regularly examining your skin can help you become familiar with the usual appearance of any moles, birthmarks, or blemishes. Report any changes you find to your healthcare professional.

Keep in Mind: Protecting young people’s skin from damage is especially important. Most sun damage occurs during childhood. Studies suggest that blistering sunburns during childhood can increase the risk of developing both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Teens and young adults who use tanning beds, booths, or sunlamps also increase their risk of melanoma.

To see more of our sun safety resources, check out our Sun Safety Section.

©2018 Health Edco^®