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Mission: To help businesses, organizations, and individuals understand why and how to guard themselves from unprotected exposure to sunlight, since ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight cause 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancer. |
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How to Protect People From Getting
Skin Cancer
Here
are the basic strategies to shield children and adults
from excessive sun exposure:
- Reduce sun exposure from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest. This is especially
important from mid-spring through mid-fall.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat with at
least a four-inch brim that produces a shadow that
covers the face and neck.
A bandana covering the neck can also help.
- Wear tightly woven, loose-fitting
clothing that covers as much of the body as possible.
- When feasible, stay under shade (trees, physical structures), especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wear sunglasses that include a warranty
stating they provide 100 percent UVA and UVB (broad-spectrum)
protection.
- Liberally apply sunscreen to exposed
skin 15 minutes before venturing outdoors. The sunscreen
container should specify a sun protection factor (SPF)
rating of 30 or above and should state that it provides
broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection. Lotion- or
cream-based sunscreens tend to adhere to the skin
longer thus providing better protection.
- PABA-free sunscreens are recommended
for persons with sensitive skin. Susceptible individuals
may also want to avoid oxybenzone and dioxbenzone
(check the label). To test if a given sunscreen will
cause an allergic reaction, apply it on a small patch
of skin on the underside of the forearm and monitor
the skin's response for 24 hours. To reduce development
of wrinkles and skin aging, look for sunscreens that
contain either zinc oxide (z-cote) or Parsol 1789 (avobenzone). The July 2007 issue of
Consumer Reports rates a number of sunscreen products.
- Depending on outdoor conditions,
sunscreen should be re-applied at least every two
hours. Caution: Don't depend on sunscreens alone to
protect children and adults from skin cancer. Instead,
rely as much as possible on a combination of the
guidelines previously listed.
Please
note that the SPF number on the sunscreen tube indicates
how many times longer--under ideal conditions--a person
can stay out in the sun without beginning to turn red
in comparison with the amount of time totally unprotected
skin would start to burn. Research indicates these numbers
are sometimes overstated.
Self Skin Examination
Whether
or not an individual practices the previously stated
skin cancer prevention methods, it is wise to perform
a self skin examination using a hand mirror at least
once every one to three months and to seek an annual
medical examination. The possible first signs of developing
skin cancer can often be self-observed according to
the characteristics described elsewhere regarding moles
and growths. See your doctor if you suspect any problems.
Treating Skin Cancer
Finally,
the good news is that most skin cancer can be successfully
treated if detected in its earlier phases. About 90
percent of skin cancers are treated with surgery. Other
solutions include radiation therapy, electrodesiccation
(tissue destruction by heat), cryosurgery (tissue destruction
by freezing), laser treatment, and drug therapy, etc.
Of course the best treatment, as always, is PREVENTION.
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