Have fun in the sun, but take care of skin

Sunburn, skin cancers and other sun-related adverse health effects are largely preventable when sun protection is practiced early and consistently. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most Americans don't protect themselves from the sun's damaging rays.

Sun burns and sun tanning increase skin cancer risks. The National Safety Council offers these sun-safe behaviors for optimal sun protection

• To the extent possible, people should limit sun exposure during the hours when the sun's rays are the strongest, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Practice sun protective behaviors. Your shadow is an indicator of the sun's intensity. If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun is at its highest intensity. The American Academy of Dermatology's shadow rule is no shadow-seek shade.
• Refer to the daily ultraviolet (UV) index when planning outdoor events. The UV index is a daily forecast of the intensity of the sun's UV rays. The index indicates the risk of overexposure to skin-damaging UV radiation and can be used to help plan outdoor activities to minimize overexposure.
• Seek shade whenever possible. Shade structures such as trees and umbrellas provide year-around protection. Although trees do not offer complete sun protection, they provide about 60 percent blockage from the sun's rays.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and long-sleeved, tightly woven clothing. Clothing can physically block out the sun's harmful rays and should be one of the first lines of defense against sun exposure. Sunglasses should block out 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation to protect the eyes from damage. Hats are the best way to minimize UV radiation exposure to the face, head, ears and neck.
• Use broad-spectrum sunscreens whose active ingredients block UVA and UVB rays. The Sun Protective Factor (SPF) should be a minimum of 15. Sunscreens should be used every day, including cloudy days. They should be applied liberally and evenly before going out into the sun and should be applied frequently, especially after swimming.
• Avoid tanning salons. Artificial UV radiation is just as bad for skin as sunlight. Most tanning devices use UVA rays which have been shown to go deeper into the skin and contribute to premature wrinkling and skin cancer.
• Limit exposure to reflective surfaces like snow and water. UV rays can be reflected off of sand, tile, water, snow and buildings.

For more information, go to http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/sunsafet.htm online. And see today's Daily Newsbulletin for a story about free skin cancer screenings offered today by Occupational Medicine (HSR-2).