RSS
Home
Wear sunscreen everyday, even on cloudy days
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Sun exposure can cause skin cancer because of the damaging radiation of the sun's rays. Most people think of sun exposure only on sunny summer days, but the sun’s rays penetrate human skin whenever it’s exposed. People should protect themselves from the sun all year round, in every season and every temperature, even on cloudy days. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with 1 million cases annually. Two-thirds (65 percent) of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, melanomas, are caused by the sun’s UV rays, as well as 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers.
The sun produces ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, the most abundant source of radiation and the most damaging of all types of rays, because it penetrates beyond the top layer of human skin. UVA rays can cause damage to connective tissue and increase a person’s risk for developing skin cancer, including melanomas.
The sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are not as abundant as UVA rays because they are largely absorbed by the ozone layer. UVB rays also penetrate skin, but less deeply than UVA rays, and can also be damaging. Ultraviolet C (UVC) rays are also produced by the sun and are extremely hazardous to skin, but are completely absorbed by the stratospheric ozone layer and do not reach the earth’s surface.
The sun’s rays are most damaging during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during standard time), in the continental United States.
Everyone should wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30, as recommended by dermatologists and the American Cancer Society. Many sunscreens are available in lotions, gels, sprays and baby formulas, and generally recommend reapplying every two hours, while in the sun and after sweating or swimming. SPF indicates the level of sun protection it provides: the higher the number, the more protection it offers.
Fair skin people are more likely to burn easily or tan from the sun. People at greatest risk for excessive sun damage are those who:
• Always burn, but never tan and are sensitive to sun exposure
• Burn easily and tan minimally
People who never burn, are deeply pigmented and least sensitive to sun exposure are at the lowest risk for damage, but should also wear sunscreen everyday.
When outside, wear sunscreen, long sleeve shirts, long pants, a wide brimmed hat, sun glasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection and stay in shaded areas as much as possible. Clothes with UPF (ultraviolet protection in fabric) are also available now.
People with a family history of skin cancer have a 50 percent risk of having it. People with a personal history of precancers or skin cancer are more likely to get melanoma. Those with lots of moles are also at a greater risk for skin cancer, particularly if a mole changes shape, size or color, bleeds or itches. If one of thee warning signs occurs, you should see a dermatologist right away.
For regular check-ups, dermatologists recommend a visit at least once a year (more often if you’re at high risk or have been previously diagnosed with skin cancer) and monthly self-exams. Skin cancer is one of the most curable cancers; when diagnosed early, the survival rate is 99 percent.
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
