As the days get warmer and summer gets closer many of us plan on spending more time outside soaking up the sun. Sunlight allows the body to naturally release Serotonin, a hormone that boosts your mood and helps you to feel calm and focused. Vitamin D provided by sun exposure can also help strengthen our bones and reduce the risks of bone diseases. But sun exposure also brings with it the risk of skin cancer. It is important to remember to stay safe while being outside, not just by social distancing, but also by protecting our skin! May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month.  Below are some tips from the American Cancer Society on staying safe:

Steps to stay sun-safe:

  • Seek shade: Limit direct sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest
  • Cover up:  light clothing (made with synthetic fibers), a wide-brimmed hat and wrap-around sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV light
  • Apply sunscreen often – use broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, reapply every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating
  • Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps: Both can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer

Choosing the right Sunscreen

Not all sunscreens are created equally, and it is important to read the labels before buying. The American Cancer Society recommends looking for sunscreens labeled as “broad spectrum” that provide protect against both UVA and UVB rays.  Also, make sure to use sunscreens with an SPF of 30 or higher.  Sunscreens with an SPF of 15, for example may only protect against sunburn, not skin cancer or skin aging.  No sunscreen is truly waterproof, but make sure if a sunscreen is labeled “water resistant” that you check how long it protects for. Most are 40 or 80 minutes.  Lastly, make sure to check the expiration date.  Sunscreens usually are good for at least 2 years, and any sunscreen that has expired may not work as well.

How to Spot Skin Cancer

The most common type of cancer is skin cancer, and when spotted early is easy to treat.  Skin cancer screenings can be performed by your doctor at an annual physical, but you can also examine your own skin to look for warning signs.  An article written by Stacy Simon, a senior Editor for the American Cancer Society instructs you to use the “ABCDE rule” to look for some common sings of melanoma, a sever form of skin cancer:

  • Asymmetry – one part of a mole or birthmark doesn’t match the other
  • Border – the edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred
  • Color – the color is not the same all over, may included shades of brown/black with patches of other colors
  • Diameter – the spot is larger than ¼” across, about the size of a pencil eraser
  • Evolving – mole is changing in size, shape or color

They also tell you what signs to look for on other types of skin cancers, and areas to point out to your doctor if you are concerned.  Read the full article here.