Why Sun Safety?
· Since 1973, new cases of the most serious form of skin cancer, Melanoma have increased 150%
· Nearly 14% of those diagnosed with Melanoma will die as a result of the disease.
· Ultraviolet radiation > UVA and UVB exposure is responsible for 65% - 90% of all skin cancers.
· More than half of a person’s lifetime Ultraviolet (UV) exposure occurs during childhood and adolescents. Some experts estimate childhood and adolescent UV exposure accounts for as much as 80% of an individual’s lifetime UV exposure.
· Person’s with a history of one or more blistering sunburns during childhood or adolescents are two times as likely to develop Melanoma as those who did not have similar exposures.
· Although there are varying rates of skin cancer among ethnic groups, anyone can get skin cancer.
· One American dies every hour as a result of skin cancer.
What can I do to Improve my Sun Safety?
Limit sun exposure during peak hours.
· Best practice is stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm
· Most important to stay out of the sun between the hours of 11am and 1 pm
Wear Protective clothing
· Sunglasses
· Wide brimmed hats
· Long sleeved shirts and pants
Utilize shade structures
· Trees
· Umbrellas
· Overhangs
· Tents
Use sunscreen. Sunscreen should be:
· SP 15 or higher
· Broad spectrum (UVA and UVB protection)
· Applied liberally to clean dry skin 20-30 minutes before sun exposure.
· Re-applied 20 minutes after first application and every two hours
Use lip balm with a SPF 15 or higher
How Do I Choose a Sunscreen?
· If you or anyone in your family has a chronic health condition, are on medication, have allergies or simply have sensitive skin consult your physician or dermatologist about choosing a sunscreen best for you.
· As with all skin care products, the best practice is to test the sunscreen on a small area (inside of wrist, elbow or ankle) prior to use.
· The active ingredient in sunscreens work because of one of two mechanisms: UV absorbing and UV reflecting.
· The UV absorbers generally absorb UVB
· The UV reflectors (sometimes called sun blocks) reflect both UVA and UVB.
· A good sunscreen should have an SPF of 15 or better and be water resistant
· Broad spectrum sunscreens will state “UVA/UVB Protection”, Full Spectrum.
· An expiration date should be state on the bottle. Sunscreens without an expiration date listed usually have a shelf life of three years.
· Always consult a physician before using sunscreen on a child younger than six months of age.
· When choosing a sunscreen read the inactive as well as active ingredient lists.