subject: Maintaining Healthy Summer Skin- Watch Out For Skin Cancer [print this page] Your skin is you're your body's most prominent organ, making it essential to properly care for it, especially during the summertime when UV levels can wreak havoc on exposed skin. While basking in the sun can feel sensational, the effects of sun exposure may not be as agreeable over time. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. This summer when you decide to hit up the beach in your new swimsuit be sure to take extra precautions to protect your skin this summer.
Use that Sunscreen!
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. with strong evidence that excessive sun exposure raises your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. To protect your skin against harmful rays that can lead to skin cancer, it is important to apply sunscreen to your skin. Sunscreen is a highly recommended defense against sunburn and skin cancer. It is now available in lotions, creams, ointments, gels, wax sticks, and spray.
The best kind of sunscreen depends on you. It is good to use a product that has a higher SPF, but it is more important you find a sunscreen that you like because you will use it more. Make sure you apply sunscreen at least 15 to 30 minutes before you go out into the sun. Put on enough sunscreen so that it takes a full minute to rub in. If you are at the beach, be sure to spread at least one ounce on your face and entire body. Use more if you need to for good coverage. If you go for a swim, or are outdoors for an extended period of time, reapply your sunscreen every two hours.
When purchasing sunscreen, be sure it has the following qualities:
*Water resistant so that sweat and water cannot easily remove it
*SPF of 15 or higher
*Provides a broad-spectrum of protection
Ouch! I think I have Sunburn
Many beach and pool goers often complain of sunburn, which is a visible reaction of the skin's exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the invisible rays that are part of sunlight. Signs of sunburn may not appear for a few hours, and the full effect to your skin may take up to 24 hours to appear, but when you have sunburn you will know. Ultraviolet rays can also cause invisible damage to the skin. Excessive or multiple sunburns cause premature aging of the skin and can lead to skin cancer. The following are the most common symptoms of sunburn:
*Redness
*Swelling of the skin
*Pain
*Blisters
*Fever
*Chills
*Weakness
*Dry, itching, and peeling skin days after the burn
Sunburns typically heal on their own in a couple of weeks, but there are ways to alleviate the pain caused by them. It is often recommended that you take a cool bath, or gentle apply cool, wet compresses to the skin when sunburn develops. You many also take a pain reliever to help with the pain, but it is also important to rehydrate your skin to help reduce swelling by applying aloe.
Visit your Dermatologist in Boynton for more information on how to protect your skin this summer, and to find out what to do when you suffer from sunburn. Remember, skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States, so protecting your skin this summer can help protect you for a lifetime.
