Exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays increases the risk of skin cancer, which is why proper sun protection is essential. In fact, the sun’s UV rays are responsible for about 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86 percent of melanomas.
Exposure to UV radiation is directly linked to all three forms of skin cancer. By adopting good sun safety habits, families can enjoy summer outdoor activities without increasing their skin cancer risk.
Here is a list of tips you can utilize to safely enjoy your time out in the sun:
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. For extended outdoor activity, useawater-resistantbroadspectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.
•Cover up with clothing. Look for high-UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) swim shirts or rash guards, and choose bathing suits that cover more skin, like one-piece suits and long trunks. Make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen to exposed areas
of the skin not covered by fabric. To help avoid missing spots, apply sunscreen before putting on your bathing suit.
• Avoid tanning. There is no such thing as a safe tan, because tanning itself is caused by DNA damage to the skin. In addition to increasing skin cancer risk, tanning also leads to premature skin aging, including wrinkles, leathery skin and age spots.
• Remind kids to seek the shade. Advise kids to play in shaded areas to limit UV exposure, especially in between 10am and 4pm, when UV rays are most intense.
• Dress kids in sun-protective cloth- ing. Look for tightly woven or knit, dark- or bright-colored fabrics, which offer the best protection. Don’t forget wide-brimmed hats and wraparound, UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Practice sunscreen application beforehand. Teach children to apply one ounce (two tablespoons, or about the size of a golf ball) of sunscreen to all exposed areas 30 minutes before outdoor activities. Remind them to cover easily missed
areas such as the back of the neck and tops of the ears.
• Treat your vehicle to window film. Car windows don’t provide com- plete sun protection. Though UVB radiation is effectively blocked by glass, more than 60 percent of UVA radiation can pass through windows. UV-protective film, also known as window film, blocks out up to 99.9 percent of UV radiation. If you have window film installed, remember that it protects you only when the windows are closed.
• Drivers beware. Nearly 53 percent of skin cancers in the U.S. occur on the left, or drivers’ side of the body. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen, particularly when spending extended time in a car that has no window film.
• Do not burn. At any age, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has ever had five or more sun- burns.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreen should be used on babies over the age of six months.
For more information, visit SkinCan- cer.org .
