School will be out soon — which means there will be many days of having fun in the sun. But don’t forget to wear your sunscreen or hats.
It may seem juvenile, but many times we go outside to stroll around the park, pop up at a farmer's market or go for a bike ride and forget sun protection. Because it’s not just for the beach, or in our case, the lake.
Sunscreen is an important part of protecting ourselves against sunburn, but also something more serious like skin cancer. The U.S. The Department of Health and Human Services states, “Every year, there are more than 63,000 new cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, resulting in nearly 9,000 deaths (and) skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with 5 million people treated each year.”
That’s a pretty large number of people. But the good news is it's a fairly preventable form of cancer. Outside of just wearing sunscreen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying in the shade when possible, wearing clothes that cover arms and legs, wearing hats, wearing sunglasses, avoiding indoor tanning and when you use sunscreen go for ones 15 SPF or higher.
It’s also advised to get regular skin checks, especially for those who might be prone to skin cancer. Skin cancer screenings are often done through dermatologists if not done by your primary care physician. Skin checks can be helpful to spot early warning signs or other possible skin issues.
According to the American Cancer Society, some common things to look out for include asymmetry, irregular borders, inconsistent coloration or the spot changing in size, shape or color over time.
If you have any concerns, check with a medical professional and remember to wear your sunscreen this summer and all 365 days of the year.
