5 Myths About Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

Sara spends much of her summer near theyou're not at the beach. Of course, you are
beach. She lives in ausually less attired
mild climate and is very athletic. She loves toat the beach and so covering up is
swim, bike andrecommended even when wearing
play games outdoors. Sara knows the dangerssunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat
of the sun and so sheand water and
opts for tanning salons to get her 'golden glow'should always be applied every two hours or
while being sureafter getting wet.MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of
to apply sunscreen every day before headingYour Skin Now Will Protect YouSadly, skin cancer
out.Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. Thecan take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin
summers can beCancer Foundation states that most people
very humid, but most of the year is mild orreceive about 80
even below freezingpercent of their lifetime sun exposure before the
during the harshest winter months. The beachage of 18.
has never been muchJust one blistering sunburn in childhood is
of a draw for him and he spends most of hisestimated to double
time doing indoorthe risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better
activities or at his job. Joseph doesn't worrycare now will
about sunscreenreduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage
and only had one sunburn that he can rememberalready done.MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means
and that was whenYou're More ProtectedDark skinned individuals are
he was a child.--------------------Which of theseless likely to develop cancer, but
examples do you most associate yourself with?tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated
Didtanning injures
you know that Sara and Joseph are both at riskthe skin and increases the risk of skin
of developing skincancer.MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned on
cancer? We have all heard the warnings aboutOvercast DaysJust because the sun is hidden by
the dangers of sunsome cloud does not mean that
exposure. We know all about the importance ofyou don't need protection from the harmful
wearing sunscreeneffects of the suns rays.So how do you plan to
and hats. But are YOU protected from skinprotect your family this year? Some
cancer? Consider thesesuggestions are to limit exposure to the sun -
myths and facts:MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds areespecially for
Safer than the Sun20 minutes of exposure in ainfants. Examine your skin for early signs of
tanning bed is roughly equivalent todamage. Use a
four hours in the sun. Although sun beds usesunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at
UVA rather than UVBleast 30 minutes
rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states thatbefore exposure and every two hours after
"UV-A penetrates morethat. Teach your
deeply into the skin than UV-B, can cause skinchildren good safety habits and be sure you and
cancer, and maythey are covered
suppress the immune system."MYTH TWO:up when outdoors. Have fun and be safe.The
Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection85information contained in this article is for
percent of UV rays can even make it through oneducational purposes
cloudy days.only and is not intended to medically diagnose,
That means you are equally at risk in the car,treat or cure any
walking the dog ordisease. Consult a health care practitioner before
letting your children out to play at any time ofbeginning any
year - even whenhealth care program.