Be Safe In the Sun

If you enjoy the outdoors, you're probably looking forward to sunny weather stretching ahead. But, don't let your guard down. Getting to much sun can do more than spoil your fun-overtime, too much sun can lead to skin cancer and other health problems.

Remember, skin cancer is very slow to develop. The sunburn you receive this week may take 20 years or more to become skin cancer. Most people receive 80% of their lifetime exposure to sun by 18 years of age. Parents protect your children.

It is estimated that nonmelanoma skin cancer, such as basal cell and squamos cell carcinomas, affects more than 1 million people a year. Although it's serious, fewer than 1 percent of these people die from it. Nonmelanoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Skin cancer can occur anywhere on your body, but it is most common in places that have been exposed to more sunlight. Skin cancer looks many of different ways, such as a growth or a sore that won't heal. Sometime there may be a small lump. This lump can be smooth, shiny and waxy looking, or it can be red or redish brown. Skin cancer may also appear as a flat red spot that is rough or scaly. Not all changes in your skin are cancer, but you should see your doctor if you notice changes in your skin.

Melanoma is less common-an estimated 54,000 people were diagnosed with it last year-but it's more dangerous. Approximately 7,600 people died of melanoma in 2003. The exact cause in unknown. But, repeated exposure to ultraviolet rays-especially if it results in severe sunburn-is risk factor. Melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system or through the blood. (Lymph nodes are small, bean shaped structures that are found throughout your body; they produce and store infection fighting cells). You should see your doctor if you have any of the following warning signs of melanoma: change in size, shape, or color of a mole; oozing or bleeding from a mole; or a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen, or tender to the touch.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE RAYS. The good news is that there's a lot you can do to prevent sunburn and skin cancer:

v  Avoid the sun when UV rays are at it's strongest-between 10am and 3pm

v  Cover up. Wear lightweight, tightly woven clothing and a broad-brimmed hat.

v  Protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block the most common UV rays-UVA and UVB. They may cause cataracts.

In addition, whenever you're outdoors during the day, use sunscreen that protects UVA and UVB rays, with a sun protection factor of  (SPF) of 15. follow these tips:

v  Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before being exposed to sunlight. Use it even on a cloudy day or when in the car-UV rays can pass through clouds, glass and water.

v  Check the expiration date on your bottle of sunscreen.

v  Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Do this more often if you've been swimming or sweating.

There's' no quick cure for sunburns, but there are some ways to help relieve the discomfort.

v  Apply a cold compress for 15 minutes once an hour.

v  Soak in a cool bath. Add a half-cup of cornstarch, oatmeal )in a nylon stocking to "dip" into the water) or baking soda.