The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has designated May as National Melanoma Skin Cancer Prevention Month. As we progress from spring to summer, the position of the sun rises in the sky, the days become longer, and our vulnerability to skin cancer increases. Our colleagues at AAD have impeccable timing; we are a captive audience and eager to greet the summer and sunshine—responsibly. Here is what the AAD “strongly recommends” to accomplish this goal:
Seek shade when appropriate. This is especially important between 10 am and 2 pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest. The AAD’s tip: If your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade.
Wear protective clothing. It may not meet your fashion standards, but wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants, as well as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, offers better protection.
Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to all exposed skin. (Broad-spectrum sunscreens provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays.) Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or so, even on cloudy days, and after you’ve gone swimming or gotten sweaty.
Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand. These reflect and intensify the sun’s damaging rays and can increase your risk for sunburn.
Avoid tanning beds. UV light from tanning beds (as well as the sun) can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. Resent being pale? Consider using a self-tanning product or spray—but continue to use sunscreen with it!4
Continued on next page >>