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T
he sun might give
you a tan. But it
might also give
you wrinkles, skin cancer
and even cataracts. That’s
hardly worth it.
So you’ll want to be smart
about the sun and do all that you
can to protect yourself from its
damaging rays. Do your best to follow
these five safeguards:
5
Sunshine
and safety
points to
keep in
mind
E
C
B
A
BORDER
It has an irregular or
unde ned border.
COLOR
The color changes from
one area to another.
THE
of melanoma
ASYMMETRY
Half of the mole or spot is
unlike the other half.
Melanoma is the most deadly form
of skin cancer. These ABCDEs can
help you tell if you should see a
doctor about a mole or spot. Even
one of these signs is a reason to
see a doctor right away.
ABCDE
S
D
EVOLVING
It looks different from others
on your body or is changing.
DIAMETER
The mole or spot is larger than a
pencil eraser. (Can be smaller.)
1
Slather on sunscreen.
Put
it on all of your exposed skin, even
on cloudy days. Use a water-resistant,
broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun
protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Use a
generous amount—about a palmful if your
arms, legs, neck and face need protection.
Reapply it at least every two hours and also
after swimming or sweating. Remember,
too, that everybody needs sunscreen—no
matter what their skin color is.
2
Cover up.
Even with plenty of
sunscreen, some rays will still
penetrate your skin. So whenever you can,
wear clothing that covers you—including a
wide-brimmed hat.
3
Wear sunglasses.
Be sure
they block at least 99 percent of both
UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses with labels
that say “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or
“meets ANSI UV requirements” will lower
your risk of cataracts and other eye
problems.
4
Try to avoid the midday
sun.
If possible, head indoors or
find someplace shady to hang out between
the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. That’s
when sunlight is most intense.
5
Get vitamin D safely.
Your
body makes vitamin D when
sunlight touches your skin. Still, it’s best to
get this vitamin either from your diet or
vitamin supplements; unlike the sun, they
won’t make you vulnerable to skin cancer.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; American Cancer Society
2
q
www.sgmh.org