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Sun Safety
After an unending Wisconsin winter, it feels amazing to be able to soak up the rays and the heat that a summer sun has to offer. However, even though the sun is refreshing and provides essential nutrients such as vitamin D, individuals also need to be aware of the negative effects it can have on the body if proper precautions are not taken.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays is the leading cause of skin cancer. In fact, if you have had even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence, your likelihood of developing skin cancer later in life more than doubles. Ultraviolet rays are most often found naturally in sunlight, but are also present in manmade sources such as tanning beds. By limiting your exposure to UV rays, you can reduce your chances of getting skin cancer; however, there are a number of things that put you in jeopardy that you have no control over.
Uncontrollable risk factors:
Although you cannot avoid all of the things that put you at risk, there are precautionary measures you can take to protect your skin’s health.
Prevention: · Avoid direct sun exposure, especially between 10 am and 4 pm. · Use sunscreen every day - it should have a sun protection factor of 15 or higher, and should protect against both UV-A and UV-B rays. · Cover up with clothing when outside. · Wear a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. · Be sure to re-apply sunscreen every two hours. · Avoid laying out in the sun, as well as using UV tanning booths.
It is estimated that one in five Americans has some form of skin cancer; and of those individuals, more than 20 die each day. No one is immune to this disease; in fact, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Skin cancer can, however, be treated; and success is often determined by how soon the disease is detected. Receiving annual skin checks from a healthcare professional, and performing your own monthly head-to-toe exams at home, are essential steps toward early detection – and potentially saving your life.
Signs and symptoms to look for: · moles that stand out or look different from others - an ordinary mole will be an evenly-colored brown, tan or fleshed-colored spot; it will be either flat or raised, and will have sharply defined borders · a change in sensation of a mole - itchiness, tenderness or pain · the spread of pigment from the border of a mole to the surrounding skin · a change in the surface of a mole - oozing, bleeding or the appearance of a bump or nodule · a sore throat that does not heal - this could be a sign of melanoma (a cancer that begins in cells that protect the skin from harmful UV rays, and is the second most common and the most dangerous form of cancer for young adults)
During the summer months, the time spent enjoying the great outdoors increases for many. Knowing about sun safety doesn’t mean that you have to avoid a trip to the beach; however, when you do put your feet in the sand, make it a point to take the necessary steps to protect the health of your skin.
Mile Bluff offers a full line of services to educate about, detect and treat skin cancer. If you would like more information, contact your primary healthcare provider, or call Mile Bluff at 608-847-6161.
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Mile Bluff Medical Center/ 1050 Division St./ Mauston, WI 53948 / 608 847 6161 Mile Bluff Medical Center, 1050 Division Street, Mauston, WI 53948 608 847 6161 or Toll free in WI at 800 252 4377 © 2008 Mile Bluff Medical Center |
