COMMUNITY HEALTH CORNER by
In moderation, sunlight provides many health benefits. Exposure to the sun for five to 30 minutes at least twice a week can add to the body’s daily production of vitamin D, which helps absorb calcium, improves bone health and protects against cancer, among other things. Sunlight also helps keep sleep patterns on track and improves overall happiness.
However, without proper precautions, too much sunlight can cause sunburn. Skin can usually repair sunburn itself, but long-term damage may remain and as you age it becomes more difficult to mend, leading to wrinkles and lines and potentially increasing your risk for skin cancer. Follow these tips to prevent skin damage from sunlight:
- Avoid overexposure to UV rays from natural and artificial sources. - Avoid outdoor activities during the sun’s strongest rays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and try to seek shade. - Use extra caution near water, snow and sand because they reflect sunlight and increase your chance of sunburn and other damage to the skin and eyes. - To reduce exposure, wear protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats, long pants and sleeves, and sunglasses that provide 100% UV ray protection. - Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or greater. For best results, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 1.5 - 2 hours even on cloudy days and especially after swimming or sweating. - Carefully examine your skin once a month for new or changing skin lesions. See a dermatologist if you notice an unusual mole, a scaly patch or a sore with persistent bleeding or that does not heal. This may be a pre-cancer or a skin cancer.
If you need cancer services, head to the Thomas A. Dee Cancer Center at HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary’s Avenue Campus, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. The center is staffed by a world class team of professionals who provide quality medical and radiation oncology services using the latest treatments. For more information, call 845-334-3015.
For more information about HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth),
visit hahv.org