Spring Break Precautions
Spring Break Precautions
In the 1920’s Coco Chanel began sporting a tan and from that day forward people have been going to extreme measures to fit-in with pop-culture’s notion that tan is beautiful. In part due to this phenomenon, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. If a person lives until they are 65, they have a 50% chance of getting some form of cancer, and 1 in 5 people will get skin cancer in their lifetime. The incidence of melanoma, the most serious and often deadly form of cancer, has been increasing faster than any other type of cancer and has doubled since 1973.
Why are we bringing this up now??? Spring break, which is right around the corner, is a time of year when many of you will overexpose yourselves to the sun’s damaging rays.
Here are a few simple tips to follow when you are out on the mountain, swimming in the pool, or the ever popular spring break option--helping your mom weed the garden.
1) Check the UV Index Daily
a. Look in the weather section of the newspaper or go online. The UV index ranges from 1-11+ and the higher the number, the more cautious you have to be when doing outdoor activities.
2) Limit direct UV exposure
a. If at all possible, stay indoors during peak UV hours (10:00am-4:00pm)
b. Use large umbrellas or other shade cover
c. Avoid tanning beds- the idea that a “base” tan is going to help you is a myth. Tans are literally frying the top layer of your skin and are NOT, I repeat, NOT healthy.
3) Cover up with clothing
a. Choose to wear tightly woven materials rather than material you can see through. Also, choose long-sleeve, long pants and a hat.
b. Cover your eyes with 100% UV protection sunglasses
4) Use sunscreen
a. Wear sunscreen with SPF 15+ that blocks both UVA and UVB (referred to as broadspectrum)
b. Apply 30 minutes before going outdoors
c. Reapply every 2 hours
d. Sunscreen works best when you combine it with one of the other practices
Have a great spring break and remember to always be sun safe!