Are You At Risk for Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Over 50,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin in 2004 and close to 8000 people died from the same condition that year. It is a well known fact; the sun's rays damage your skin. These rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays, cause early wrinkles, skin cancer, and other skin problems. Being in the sun often over time, even if you do not burn, can lead to skin cancer. A tan is the body's desperate attempt to protect itself from the sun's harmful rays.
Most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun. These areas include the head, neck, and face, tips of the ears, hands, forearms, shoulders, back, chests of men, and the back and lower legs of women. A number of things may put you at higher risk of having skin cancer. Such as having fair skin, red or blond hair, light-colored eyes, the tendency to sunburn easily, having many moles, freckles or birthmarks, working or playing outside, being in the sun a lot as a child, having had a serious sunburn, having family member with skin cancer and tanning in the sun or with a sunlamp.
Protect Yourself from Skin Damage
The American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend the following steps to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
1) Minimize your exposure to the sun at midday and between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
2) Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF-15 or higher, to all areas of the body which are exposed to the sun.
3) Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.
4) Wear clothing that covers your body and shades your face. Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck.
5) Avoid sunlamps and/or tanning salons.
6) Protect your children, as they are the most vulnerable to sun damage.
Get Fit for Summer, Stay Fit for Life
Swimsuit season is just around the corner! This may be the motivation many people use to get fit, but there are many other practical reasons to make healthier choices now and forever. Being “fit” means being able to perform well in a wide variety of physically demanding tasks. Climbing two flights of stairs may be physically demanding to some whereas a 5k run is demanding for others. If you want to incorporate physical fitness into your lifestyle it is best to start with 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as walking, at least 4 days a week.
