#SkinCheckChallenge - Be Sun Safe

With the much anticipated arrival of spring in Maine, and the upcoming holiday weekend, many of us are planning outdoor activities to enjoy the warmer and sunnier days ahead. If you are headed outdoors, be sure to include adequate sun protection on your list of must-haves.  

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and around the world? May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States than all other cancers combined - 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Take steps to help reduce your skin cancer risk.

Much of the sun’s warmth we enjoy can be attributed to UV or ultraviolet light radiation. UV wavelengths are shorter than those of visible light and account for approximately 10% of the sun’s total light output. UV is emitted in varying wavelengths – UVA, UVB, and UVC. Both UVA and UVB light from the sun penetrates the earth’s atmosphere. Repeated and/or prolonged UVA and/or UVB exposure can be harmful, leading to premature skin aging, eye damage (including cataracts), skin cancer, and suppression of the immune system.

 According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, over 5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. This most common type of cancer is largely preventable. According to the American Cancer Society, these factors may increase your risk of developing skin cancer from sun exposure:

  • A family history of melanoma or other forms of skin cancer.

  • A high number of moles, and/or large or irregularly-shaped moles.

  • Freckled skin with a tendency to burn before tanning.

  • Light to fair skin, blue or green eyes, and/or blonde, red, or light brown hair.

  • Live or vacation at high altitudes, or in tropical/subtropical climates.

  • Spend a lot of time outdoors, or you spend most time indoors, with brief periods of intense sun exposure.

  • You take medications that lower or suppress your immune system and/or make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

  • An autoimmune disease or a medical condition that weakens your immune system.

Sun protection is essential for skin cancer prevention, no matter your age or skin color. Childhood sun exposure and sunburns can lead to skin cancer and other adverse health effects later in life. Adopting these sun safety habits can help protect you and your loved ones: 

  • Keep infants out of the sun.

  • Minimize sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m.  and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are most direct.

  • Teach your children sun safety habits and remind them frequently.

  • Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds. 

  • Cover up. Wear sun-protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. 

  • Apply full-spectrum sunscreen of SPF30 or higher, liberally and frequently, every day.

For more ways to prevent skin cancer caused by UV exposure, click here. Remember, skin cancer is preventable, and when caught early, is highly treatable. 

The Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincancer.org) invites you to join in the #SkinCheckChallenge!

Early detection saves lives! The #SkinCheckChallenge is an early detection campaign that aims to encourage people everywhere to check their skin for anything new, changing, or unusual, share on social media and inspire friends and family to do the same.

Click here for step-by-step instructions for checking your skin from head to toe every month.   

Click here to get all the details on how you can join the challenge.

POSTTracey CarlsonCE, HPM