Sun Safety During Summertime: Your guide to staying safe and detecting skin cancer early.

Sun Safety During Summertime: Your guide to staying safe and detecting skin cancer early.

Summer is the season of sunshine, beach trips and outdoor activities. While the warm weather invites us to spend more time outside, it also brings the need for heightened sun safety awareness. Prolonged sun exposure causes severe sun damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. Here’s a comprehensive guide to staying safe under the sun and understanding the importance of early skin cancer detection.

The risk of sun exposure

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun are the main causes of skin damage and skin cancer. There are two types of harmful UV rays, UVA and UVB rays penetrate deep into the skin leading to premature wrinkles and aging, awhile UVB rays cause sunburn. Both types can damage the DNA in skin cells, potentially leading to skin cancer.

Sun Safety Tips:

1. Use Sunscreen Regularly

Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF with at least 30 is crucial. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply every two hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

• Wear Protective Clothing

Clothing can be a barrier against UV rays. Long sleeved shirts, pants and wide brimmed hats provide excellent protection.  Look for clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UVF) label, which indicates how effectively the fabric blocks UV radiation.

• Seek Shade

When the sun is at it’s strongest typically between 10am and 4pm seek shade under umbrellas, trees or shelters. This reduces direct exposure to harmful UV rays.

• Wear Sunglasses

Protect your eyes from UV rays with sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. This helps prevent cataracts and other eye damage.

• Avoid Tanning Beds

Tanning beds omit UVA and UVB rays, which can be more intensive than the sun. They significantly increase the risk of skin cancer and should be avoided.

The importance of early skin cancer detection

Skin cancer is the most common form cancer in the United States, but is also one of the most preventable and beatable when detected early. There are three major types of skin cancer.

• Basil Cell Carcinoma(BCC) the most common form, typically appears as a flesh colored bump or pinkish patch of skin. BCC’s grow slowly and rarely spread but they can cause significant damage if it goes untreated.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Often occurring as a red scaley patch that heals and reopens. SCC’s can grow deeper into the skin and spread to other parts of the body if not treated promptly.