Be Safe In the Sun
If you enjoy the outdoors, you’re probably looking forward
to sunny weather stretching ahead. But, don’t let your guard down. Getting to
much sun can do more than spoil your fun-overtime, too much sun can lead to
skin cancer and other health problems.
Remember, skin cancer is very slow to develop. The sunburn
you receive this week may take 20 years or more to become skin cancer. Most
people receive 80% of their lifetime exposure to sun by 18 years of age.
Parents protect your children.
It is estimated that nonmelanoma skin cancer, such as basal
cell and squamos cell carcinomas, affects more than 1 million people a year.
Although it’s serious, fewer than 1 percent of these people die from it.
Nonmelanoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
Skin cancer can occur anywhere on your body, but it is most
common in places that have been exposed to more sunlight. Skin cancer looks
many of different ways, such as a growth or a sore that won’t heal. Sometime
there may be a small lump. This lump can be smooth, shiny and waxy looking, or
it can be red or redish brown. Skin cancer may also appear as a flat red spot
that is rough or scaly. Not all changes in your skin are cancer, but you should
see your doctor if you notice changes in your skin.
Melanoma is less common-an estimated 54,000 people were
diagnosed with it last year-but it’s more dangerous. Approximately 7,600 people
died of melanoma in 2003. The exact cause in unknown. But, repeated exposure to
ultraviolet rays-especially if it results in severe sunburn-is risk factor.
Melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system
or through the blood. (Lymph nodes are small, bean shaped structures that are
found throughout your body; they produce and store infection fighting cells).
You should see your doctor if you have any of the following warning signs of
melanoma: change in size, shape, or color of a mole; oozing or bleeding from a
mole; or a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen, or tender to the touch.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE RAYS. The good news is that
there’s a lot you can do to prevent sunburn and skin cancer:
v Avoid
the sun when UV rays are at it’s strongest-between 10am and 3pm
v Cover
up. Wear lightweight, tightly woven clothing and a broad-brimmed hat.
v Protect
your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block the most common UV rays-UVA and UVB. They
may cause cataracts.
In addition, whenever you’re outdoors during the
day, use sunscreen that protects UVA and UVB rays, with a sun protection factor
of (SPF) of 15. follow these tips:
v
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before being exposed
to sunlight. Use it even on a cloudy day or when in the car-UV rays can pass
through clouds, glass and water.
v
Check the expiration date on your bottle of
sunscreen.
v
Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Do this more
often if you’ve been swimming or sweating.
There’s’ no quick cure for sunburns, but there are some ways
to help relieve the discomfort.
v Apply
a cold compress for 15 minutes once an hour.
v Soak
in a cool bath. Add a half-cup of cornstarch, oatmeal )in a nylon stocking to
“dip” into the water) or baking soda.
v Try
a pain reliever. Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can ease
the pain of a sunburn, if your doctor says it’s ok. Don’t give aspirin to
anyone younger than age 19 years. It’s linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but
sometimes fatal condition.
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