The Sun, Summer and Your Skin
As summer approaches we must remember, that as great as the sun feels on our skin, we need to remember the sun can produce harmful rays that can burn our skin.
Although the spots and moles on our skin may be painless and small, they should not be ignored. You should always be mindful of what your body is producing as far as spots on your skin. These abnormalities on the surface of the skin can turn cancerous, a local dermatologist can determine that. Today, 1 in 5 Americans will develop some sort of skin cancer; don’t let the sun get in the way of your summer fun.
Take a minute to read how you can protect yourself from the sun's rays but still enjoy the sunny summer:
- When the sun is out, particularly between 10 AM and 4 PM, you should seek shaded areas. The sun’s rays are at its highest strength during this time.
- When possible, choose clothing that covers and protects your skin. Hats, long pants, and sunglasses are examples of protective clothing.
- Use an SPF of 30 sunscreen lotion or above when going outside in the sun, even when it is cloudy. Sunscreen lotion's job is to block the sun rays from damaging your skin on contact. Sunscreen lotion should be reapplied every two hours. (NOTE: Water, snow, and sand can reflect the sun’s rays, it is important to use protection when in these environments as well.)
- Avoid tanning beds that use ultraviolet lights. Just like the sun, these tanning beds can also cause a person to develop skin cancer or skin aging. Use alternative sunless tanning products to get that summer glow.
- Have no energy? Need more sunlight? Try a Vitamin D supplement; so you can still get benefits from the sun.
Also, a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise keeps your skin glowing. If you notice any new spots or sores on your body call your local dermatologist to further examine your skin.
For additional information visit: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/skin-cancer.html