1.2 million People diagnosed with skin cancer every year and melanoma kills one person every hour.
Improving public awareness will help reduce skin cancer rates by informing people on the ways that they can protect themselves from overexposure and help bring the statistics down. Unfortunately, in some older adults, the damage has already been done. However, it is never too late to start practicing sun safety, and it is especially important that parents keep their children informed and protected.
Important tips for being sun-safe
• Remember that the sun is strongest between 10:00AM and 4:00 PM.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses
• Remember that UV rays bounce off of sand, snow, concrete, and water
• Do not use tanning beds or sun lamps
• Keep very young children (6 months or less) out of the sun
• Provide complete sunscreen coverage for your skin (including neck, ears, and lips)
• Sunscreen should be applied liberally and evenly over all exposed areas
• Use sunscreen SPF 30 or higher
• Use lip balm with SPF 15 or higher
• Apply sunscreen before going outdoors and reapply often
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming, perspiring, and toweling off
• Stay in the shade whenever possible
Learn, don’t burn!