Sunscreen is critical in sunny Yuma
Daily SPF lotion can help reduce risk of skin cancer
Skin cancer reports tend to be “bad news/good news” scenarios.
The bad news is, it is the most common cancer in the United States.
The good news is, it’s also one of the most preventable forms of cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, which notes that the disease is easily treated when diagnosed early on.
In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, the foundation reports, which means it’s important to do regular self-inspections of one’s skin, and to meet annually with a dermatologist or physician for a professional skin exam.
Living in Yuma, Ariz., this is an important message to hear. Yuma is one of the sunniest places in the world with an average of more than 4,000 hours of sunshine per year. We need to pay extra attention to skin cancer and actively work to prevent it.
According to one study in the United Kingdom, nearly 86 percent of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolent radiation from the sun … in other words, sun exposure.
But it’s easy to combat that concern. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen can reduce the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent.
For sunscreen to be truly effective, apply one ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating, the Skin Cancer Foundation reports. And an important side note on this: if your children are enjoying a day in the pool, fish them out periodically, dry them off, and reapply the sunscreen.
One can take it a step further by covering up with clothing, especially a broad-brimmed hat and UV blocking sunglasses. For longer pool or beach days, long-sleeve rash guard shirts can be worn in the water and help protect arms and shoulders from too much exposure without limiting fun.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and the start of super sunny season here in Yuma. Learn about the risks, and take action to help protect your skin this summer.