Fun in the Sun: Keeping Your Skin Safe

As summer approaches everyone is anxious to get out in the sun; tired of being cooped up, cabin fever, whatever you want to call it. You are driving down the road to the shore with the windows down; stereo blasting the warmth of the sun on your face. You get set up in a chair with your iPod or a good book. This is what life is all about. This is almost everyone's perfect day. But over the years it can be the deadliest days as well. We have all been well informed about protecting our skin from the sun, and skin cancer can pop up on anyone. Of course we all know using sunscreen is the best protection against the UV rays; but do you know how to apply it, when to apply it and how often?

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States today. We are better informed about the different cancers that are caused by the sun, but we still get it. The two types of skin cancer that are most prevalent are Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell, these two are of the non-melanoma cancer which makes up about half of the skin cancers in the United States. Even with the number of the more common skin cancers decreasing, the number of cases of melanoma is on the rise. The key to the increasing survival rate is early detection.

During your yearly visit with your physician you should have your entire body checked for any spots of concern. Chances are if you can't see it, or reach it with sunscreen, you are not going to be the one to detect it. The most common places that skin cancers rears its ugly head are on and in the ears, the scalp, the back and shoulder blades. So when you are at the beach in the sun, get someone else to cover those areas with sunscreen; and in all actuality your first application of sunscreen should be applied at home twenty minutes before you are exposed to the sun, then reapplications every 2 to 3 hours and when you get out of the water. Simple rules to live by that will keep you safe while you have fun in the sun.

If you do ever find a new spot or mole like growth anywhere on your body you should seek medical attention immediately. Luckily skin cancers are slow growing and there are signs to look for. The lesion will be asymmetrical, in other words not perfectly round. It will be brown or black in color. It will have an irregular size and shape and that size and shape will change; it will not grow symmetrically. Some of the cancers will be transparent or multi-colored; or any new open wounds that won't heal or any other abnormalities that show up suddenly. If you see any of these signs consult your physician right away

Of course the best prevention is to avoid the sun, but that is almost impossible considering we do need sunlight to produce vitamin D; but stay in a shaded area, even in the shade you are exposed to UV ray and you should still apply sunscreen even under a palm tree. You need a minimum of SPF 30 for it to have any relevant impact, and for children should be even higher. Their skin is much more delicate so you should be extra vigilant in skin protection. Buddy up! Get a friend or make a friend to get those areas you are unable to reach. If you take these few simple steps in your younger years it can save you a lot of pain, disfigurement and maybe even death in you golden years.