We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place that allows us many days of sunshine and beach days but even that comes with a “warning label”… wear sunscreen! Since May is skin cancer awareness month, we want to provide some information from the American Academy of Dermatology that can help you when it comes to self-examination and understanding what to look for. Early detection is just as important as prevention!
Here’s how to protect yourself from the sun:
- Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
- Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, when possible.
- Apply a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin. Broad-spectrum sunscreen provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
- Reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days,
and after swimming or sweating. - Use extra caution near water, snow and sand, as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of skin cancer.
- Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.
- Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and premature skin aging. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Please download the printable version of the body mole map and pass it on! Download Body Mole Map here or by clicking on the image.
