Sun Protection is the best skin care advice for everyone to prevent premature aging and skin cancer. A person’s risk doubles for developing melanoma if he or she has had five or more sunburns. The following guidelines will help protect against the effects the damaging rays of the sun and premature aging:
- Apply sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 or higher before every exposure to the sun and frequently reapply.
- Sunscreen should be on cloudy days because clouds block as little as 20% of the harmful rays.
- Avoid tanning booths
- Babies under 6 months should be kept out the sun entirely.
- Wear a wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt, long pants and wrap around sunglasses during activities of long sun exposure or during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when the sun is the strongest. Self Examination should be performed on a regular basis to identify changes in your skin and aid in the early detection of skin cancer. If you notice one or more of the warning signs listed, see a dermatologist:
- Skin growth that increases in size
- A mole, birthmark or any brown spot that:
- 1) Changes in color
- 2) Changes in texture
- 3) Increases in size
- 4) Irregular in outline
- 5) Larger than 6 mm (the end of a pencil eraser)
- 6) Appears after age 21
- 7) A sore or spot with continuous itching, bleeding, crusty, or hurts
