ESDHD: Community Health Services

Summer is time for fun in the sun. We all want to be out in the sunshine, but what are the facts and myths about our risks of skin cancer and protecting ourselves from the detrimental effects of the sun? Over a million cases of skin cancer cases are diagnosed each year. Over 10,000 people die of skin cancer each year. The American Medical Association estimates that sun exposure contributes to 90% of skin cancers.

FACTS	MYTHS
Fact #1: Tans are fashionable but are also the first sign of skin damage. This is due to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and from UV lights in tanning beds. Skin damage contributes to premature wrinkles and skin cancer. Playing on the beach, driving a car, going for a walk, and taking lunch outdoors can all be unhealthy sun exposure.	Myth #1: Because I am using a higher SPF sunscreen I can go longer without reapplying sunscreen. Firstly, most people use 25-75% less sunscreen that is required to get the SPF that is advertised on the bottle. An adult should be using about one ounce of sunscreen to cover their body. That would be the amount of sunscreen to fill a shot glass. Be sure to follow the recommendation of reapplying every 2 hours or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Fact #2: The best way to protect yourself is to stay indoors during the peak sun hours (10:00am – 4:00pm). Be aware of the daily UV index number. That number is the amount of skin damaging UV radiation that is expected to reach the earth’s surface when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. To find out your daily UV Index for the day you can watch the local weather reports or go to the EPA Sunwise website at http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.	Myth #2: You won’t damage your skin if you tan on a tanning bed. Tanning beds may create similar damage as lying out in the sun. It is not just sunburn that causes skin damage that leads to skin cancer it is tanning also.
Fact #3: You can reduce your sun exposure by finding a shady spot to recreate in when you can.	Myth #3: I don’t need to reapply sunscreen after swimming because my sunscreen is labeled water-resistant. There is no sunscreen that protects the same after worn into the water. Toweling off after coming out of the water also removes sunscreen.
Fact #4: Wearing a hat, sunglasses, long pants, and long sleeve shirt made out of light loose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven material will protect you from the sun. Bathing suit and clothing companies provide a wide variety of beach cover-ups that are ideal to reduce sun-exposure. Bring over-sized t-shirts, robes, and even an umbrella to the beach.	Myth #4: All sunscreens are the same. Not true: broad spectrum sunscreens will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays, both of which are harmful to your skin. Also if someone has sensitive skin, they may want to stay away from sunscreen with added fragrances and dyes.
Fact #5: Sunscreen is a necessity to protect skin. The best way to protect your skin from the sun — at the beach and at home — is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or above. Sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide stay on longer and are especially good for water sports.	Myth #5: THE BIGGEST Myth: If I get a base tan it will protect my skin from the sun. Many people go to tanning salons to get a so-called "base tan" before leaving on a beach vacation. The theory behind this is a few sessions of indoor tanning will protect your skin from sunburn in a sunny climate. But there's no proof that this is true. You are actually damaging your skin TWICE. Tanning under the sun or a sunlamp gives protection that is equivalent to a sun protection factor (SPF) of 4 or less, which translates into very little extra time in the sun before you start to burn. But the larger issue is that any change in skin color is a sign of damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Repeated exposure to UV radiation — whether from the sun or a sunlamp — increases your risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer.

Use SPF 15 or higher protective sunscreen to ensure good protection from the sun.
Use a sunscreen that is broad-based. That means it blocks both UVA and UVB ultraviolet radiation. Both UVA and UVB contribute to skin damage from the sun.
Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or after swimming and toweling off. Even waterproof sunscreen wears off!
Children should use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. The American Medical Association says that by using a protective sunscreen until you are 18 years of age you can reduce your skin cancer risk by 78%.
Remember, sunscreen works differently for everyone fair-, red- and blond-haired people with freckles will burn much faster than people with dark hair, skin, and eyes. But everyone should use sunscreen SPF15 or higher.

If you are taking medications check with your doctor to make sure that they are not making you more sensitive to damage from the sun. Certain antibiotics, birth control pills, diuretics, antihistamines, and antidepressants are among the commonly used drugs that can increase sensitivity to the sun’s rays.

Sun exposure and children
Experts estimate that a significant percentage of our exposure to sun occurs by age 18. That’s why it’s especially important to apply sunscreens with a minimum SPF of 30 to children’s skin about 30 minutes before they go outdoors. Reapply sunscreens after they swim, towel off or play hard. Talk with teachers, child care providers and camp counselors about scheduling outdoor activities to reduce children’s exposure to the midday sun, when the sun’s rays are most harmful.
Infants six months and younger should be kept out of direct sunlight altogether. Sunscreens may irritate baby skin, and infants’ developing eyes are particularly vulnerable to sunlight.