UV SAFETY

It’s time to head to the beach! Enjoy the sun and surf, but keep precautions in mind. Being exposed to the sun in the hot summer months can take its toll, so being aware is important for summer fun.

Awareness of sun safety has greatly improved from the days of ‘laying out’ for hours covered in baby oil, but it remains an important health concern for all ages. What many sun lovers might not realize is that heat has nothing to do with UV rays and it’s effect on the skin and eyes. An overcast day can still lead to a painful sunburn.

The harmful rays can come on cloudy days, just as they can during the winter. Skiers can attest that sunlight in the wintertime can be equally damaging, as well as the windburn many athletes experience. Humidity, not heat, is what intensifies the suns effect on the skin. Whats more, sitting in the shade is not always a sure fire solution because sunlight is reflected off dust particles, pavement, boat decks and other reflective surface.

Despite efforts to promote sun safety, skin diseases like melanoma and eye inflammations have been on the rise. More Americans are getting exposed to UV [rays].

There are three cancers directly related to UV rays. Melanoma is the least common but most severe of all skin cancers and any cancers in general. Tt spreads all over the body if it’s not treated properly and finding a cure has proven difficult.

Melanoma is predominantly found in the skin, but also can be in the bowel and the eye. Its seriousness is due to the uncontrolled growth of pigment cells. The primary tumor must be removed quickly. Basel cell cancer is another form linked to UV rays. It is the most common form both of skin cancer and all cancers worldwide. It appears as an open sore or ulcer. It may bleed or crust, but it does not heal. It may also be itchy or painful. After a biopsy, it will heal over five to seven days, but it may return later.

The second most common form of skin cancer is Squamous cell cancer, which occurs in areas exposed to the sun and can generally be treated by excision only. It can also occur in many different organs and can be in the form of a malignant tumor. All of these conditions can be attributed to too much exposure to the sun.

You don’t need to avoid the outdoors altogether, hoever, just use good sun protection. The worst time to be out in the sun is after 10 a.m. and before 3 p.m., when the sun is highest in the sky.

What people call “aging of the skin” in the form of wrinkles and changes in texture is actually sun damage. Regardless of age, this damage can be prevented or minimized with the use of sun block, which should be applied a half hour before going outside and reapplied every two hours during exposure. The higher the SPF the greater the sun protection. The SPF number is not the only consideration for choosing a sun block, however. Consumers need to educate themselves about sun protection before settling on a specific brand or protection factor.

Sunscreen can react with different conditions. If people are on medications that causes them to be sensitive to the sun, it’s hard to predict. Skin care advocates, urge everyone to wear sunscreen and sunglasses and to take every skin care precaution necessary to protect from harmful UV rays, year-round and during summer season in particular

For more information on UV safety, visit www.cdc.gov.