| Sara spends much of her summer near the | | | | are usually less attired |
| beach. She lives in a | | | | at the beach and so covering up is |
| mild climate and is very athletic. She | | | | recommended even when wearing |
| loves to swim, bike and | | | | sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off |
| play games outdoors. Sara knows the | | | | with sweat and water and |
| dangers of the sun and so she | | | | should always be applied every two |
| opts for tanning salons to get her | | | | hours or after getting wet.MYTH THREE: |
| 'golden glow' while being sure | | | | Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will |
| to apply sunscreen every day before | | | | Protect YouSadly, skin cancer can take |
| heading out.Joseph lives in a cooler, | | | | 20 or more years to develop. The Skin |
| northern climate. The summers can be | | | | Cancer Foundation states that most |
| very humid, but most of the year is | | | | people receive about 80 |
| mild or even below freezing | | | | percent of their lifetime sun exposure |
| during the harshest winter months. The | | | | before the age of 18. |
| beach has never been much | | | | Just one blistering sunburn in |
| of a draw for him and he spends most of | | | | childhood is estimated to double |
| his time doing indoor | | | | the risk of melanoma later in life. |
| activities or at his job. Joseph | | | | Taking better care now will |
| doesn't worry about sunscreen | | | | reduce the risk, but not eliminate the |
| and only had one sunburn that he can | | | | damage already done.MYTH FOUR: Having a |
| remember and that was when | | | | Tan Means You're More ProtectedDark |
| he was a | | | | skinned individuals are less likely to |
| child.--------------------Which of these | | | | develop cancer, but |
| examples do you most associate yourself | | | | tanned skin is actually damaged skin. |
| with? Did | | | | Repeated tanning injures |
| you know that Sara and Joseph are both | | | | the skin and increases the risk of skin |
| at risk of developing skin | | | | cancer.MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned |
| cancer? We have all heard the warnings | | | | on Overcast DaysJust because the sun is |
| about the dangers of sun | | | | hidden by some cloud does not mean that |
| exposure. We know all about the | | | | you don't need protection from the |
| importance of wearing sunscreen | | | | harmful effects of the suns rays.So how |
| and hats. But are YOU protected from | | | | do you plan to protect your family this |
| skin cancer? Consider these | | | | year? Some |
| myths and facts:MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds | | | | suggestions are to limit exposure to |
| are Safer than the Sun20 minutes of | | | | the sun - especially for |
| exposure in a tanning bed is roughly | | | | infants. Examine your skin for early |
| equivalent to | | | | signs of damage. Use a |
| four hours in the sun. Although sun | | | | sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply |
| beds use UVA rather than UVB | | | | it at least 30 minutes |
| rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states | | | | before exposure and every two hours |
| that "UV-A penetrates more | | | | after that. Teach your |
| deeply into the skin than UV-B, can | | | | children good safety habits and be sure |
| cause skin cancer, and may | | | | you and they are covered |
| suppress the immune system."MYTH TWO: | | | | up when outdoors. Have fun and be |
| Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is | | | | safe.The information contained in this |
| Protection85 percent of UV rays can even | | | | article is for educational purposes |
| make it through on cloudy days. | | | | only and is not intended to medically |
| That means you are equally at risk in | | | | diagnose, treat or cure any |
| the car, walking the dog or | | | | disease. Consult a health care |
| letting your children out to play at | | | | practitioner before beginning any |
| any time of year - even when | | | | health care program. |
| you're not at the beach. Of course, you | | | | |