Your Health

Protect your skin

Although most skin cancers occur later in life, most sun exposure - about 80 per cent - occurs by the age of 18. Preventing sunburns and tans is an essential step in reducing the chance of getting skin cancer and melanoma.

Here are some simple precautions you can take to protect yourself from sunburns (and suntan):

• Avoid direct prolonged exposure to the sun, especially between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's intensity is greatest. Seek out shade whenever possible.
• From early spring to the start of fall, wear a wide-brimmed hat, loose fitting shirts with long sleeves and long pants instead of shorts. Clothing made from closely woven material will shield the skin best.
• Use sunscreen with a "Sun Protective Factor" (SPF) of at least 15 with both UVA and UVB protection. Apply 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside to allow the active ingredients to soak into the skin. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, or more often if swimming or exercising.
• The lower lip is a common spot for skin cancer to occur, so protect your lips by applying an SPF broad-spectrum lip balm.
• Do not apply sunscreen to children less than six months old. Babies should be kept in a shady area, out of direct and reflected sunlight.
• Be careful of medication. Certain prescriptions, such as tetracycline, can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications.
• Protect your eyes as well as your skin from ultraviolet damage. Wear sunglasses that filter out UV rays. Some sunglasses have labels stating the degree of UV protection they provide.
• Watch for reflected light, as the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can bounce back at you from sand, snow, concrete and water.
• Remember that children can get sunburned on cloudy days, as 80 per cent of the sun's rays penetrate through light clouds, mist and fog.
• Avoid the use of sunlamps.
• Check your skin regularly and see your doctor if you experience: moles that grow quickly, change shape or colour, bleed, or repeatedly itch; sore, oozing or scaly patches on the skin; a persistent white patch on the lips; or any unusual skin condition that doesn't heal in four weeks.

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	About Wave Wave is published six times a year by the Winnipeg Health Region in cooperation with the Winnipeg Free Press. It is available at newsstands, hospitals and clinics throughout Winnipeg, as well as McNally Robinson Books. Read the Summer 2009 issue of Wave