Protect yourself from the sun
More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed this year with a cancer that is almost totally preventable--skin cancer. It is the most common cancer in the United States and, for the most part, caused by too much exposure to the sun. The fairer your skin, the higher your risk of 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. Most skin cancers are highly curable, although one form, called malignant melanoma, is much more serious.
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you must be in the sun, cover up with clothing, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going into the sun so it has a chance to be absorbed by the skin. Reapply often, as swimming and perspiration will remove it. Don't try to economize--apply sunscreen liberally.
A sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 is a good choice for most people. SPF stands for sun protection factor and means that if you normally burn in 10 minutes while unprotected, you can stay in the sun 15 times longer, or 150 minutes, if you apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15.
Choose a sunscreen 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. Some research indicates that people who use only a UV-B sunscreen actually may be increasing their risk for skin cancer because they are soaking up hours of UV-A rays, unprotected.
Babies should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Shield them with protective clothing when out during the day. Suncreens should not be applied to infants under 6 months of age.
Teach your children to apply suncreen before they go out to play. Research shows that regular use of suncreen during the first 18 years of life could reduce the lifetime incidence of skin cancer by 78 percent.
Don't substitute indoor tanning salons for roasting on the beach. Tanning beds produce the same UV-A radiation as the sun. No tan is a safe tan. Tans are a sign of skin damage.
Want to avoid the hassle and worry? Simply avoid prolonged sun exposure, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
