Wed, May 26, 2010

Sun safety 101

Tips to Help Minimize Your Risk of Skin Cancer

Spending time outdoors is part of a healthy, active life. But whether you enjoy tennis, hiking, gardening, or running, take some precautions when you're out in the sun.

More than 2 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States. That's more than cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, colon, uterus, ovaries, and pancreas combined.

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Much of this exposure comes from the sun, but some may come from manmade sources, such as tanning beds.

On May 28, 2010, the Friday before Memorial Day, celebrate the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention's annual "Don't Fry Day," co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society, by practicing sun safety. Follow these practical steps -- they provide the best protection when used together. Be sure to also check out the sun-safety resources available from the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention at skincancerprevention.org.

Cover up
When you are out in the sun, wear clothing to protect as much skin as possible. The ideal sun-protective fabrics are lightweight, comfortable, and protect against exposure even when wet, such as clothing made from Coolibar which has a UPF 50.

Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher
Experts recommend products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The SPF number represents the level of protection against UVB rays provided by the sunscreen -- a higher number means more protection. Be sure to read the label before you buy.

Use 1 ounce of sunscreen (a "palmful") to cover your arms, legs, neck, and face. For best results, reapply every 2 hours -- even more if you are swimming or sweating. Don't forget to protect your lips by using a lip balm with SPF. And don't skip it just because it looks overcast outside: UV light still comes through on hazy days.

Wear a hat
A hat with at least a 2 to 3 inch brim all around is ideal to protect your neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.

Wear sunglasses that block UV rays
Invest in a pair of wrap-around sunglasses with at least 99% UV absorption to block damaging UVA and UVB light.

Limit direct sun exposure during midday
UV rays are most intense during the middle of the day, usually between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. It's best to plan your outdoor activities outside that timeframe, if possible.

Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps
Tanning lamps give out UVA and frequently UVB rays, as well. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause serious long-term skin damage, and both contribute to skin cancer. Our advice: skip the tanning bed and try a bronzing lotion or self-tanning cream.

Email this • Print This • Subscribe to this feed • Share on Facebook • Twit This! • Save to del.icio.us • Digg This! • Technorati Links • Permalink

Back to Archives -->