With Melanoma More Common; Tips To Stay Safe In The Sun

Now that May is in the rear view mirror and a sunny summer ahead, more people will be taking time to enjoy the outdoors. With the increase in time outside, exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays will also rise.

 

 

 

 

Now that May is in the rear view mirror and a sunny summer ahead, more people will be taking time to enjoy the outdoors. With the increase in time outside, exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays will also rise.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. At current rates, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime.

Sanford Health Dermatologist Dr. David Flach has noticed this increase locally.

"It’s sadly incredible how much melanoma (a type of skin cancer) we see now compared to what we use to see," said Flach. "I might have seen six patients in a year with new melanomas when I first started 27 years ago, and now there months when I see six. It’s an epidemic."

Knowledge about sun exposure is key and Flach said there are a number of ways you can be sun smart this summer.

To screen out both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, Flach suggests buying a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

"If you have an SPF of 30, it would take 30 times as long for your skin to burn with the sunscreen than it would if you didn’t use one," said Flach.

The sunscreen should also be broad spectrum, which will protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Flach said those who want to avoid the controversies regarding toxicities from sunscreens, stick with a mineral-based sunscreen or metal oxides, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outdoors and re-applied every 90 minutes, even on a cloudy day. The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it is especially important to reapply sunscreen during that time.

You cannot rely on sunscreen alone. Wearing a hat provides protection for your face and ears. Exposure to sunlight can also cause eye problems, so it is important to use sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV protection.

Extra caution should also be used around water and sand, as they reflect UVA and UVB rays.

For infants under the age of six months, Flach said many professionals suggest not exposing them to the sun by ensuring they are placed in the shade.



(AP file photo)

 

Tracy Jentz

   

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